GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Megan DuBois struck out eight and recorded her third straight win as Tusculum defeated visiting Indianapolis 5-1 in six innings in a snow-shortened game at Red Edmonds Field. The Pioneers improve to 5-0 on the season and is off to its best start since becoming a NCAA Division II member. It is also the first 5-0 start in 10 years for Tusculum softball.
Jenica Fernandez (Phoenix, Ariz.) went 2-for-3 for the Pioneers, while Judith Saavedra (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Ashley Basilicato (East Patchogue, N.Y.) each accounted for doubles in the win.
Jessica Breeden (Martinsville, Ind.) led the Greyhounds (0-1) going 2-for-3 with a triple and scored a run, while Colleen Roach (Chicago, Ill.) added a 2-for-3 performance with a RBI.
Tusculum plated three runs in the second inning as Mackenzie Loy (Knoxville, Tenn.) led off with a walk and moved to third on Basilicato's one-out double. Saavedra walked to load the bases and Anna Johnson (Jonesborough, Tenn.) drove in the first run of the game with a bases on balls. Holli Cadenhead (Van Vleck, Texas) reached on a throwing error, scoring two runs as TC led 3-0.
The Pioneers added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth frame as Loy and pinch-runner Jess Greer took advantage of UIndy's third error of the game to move out to a 5-0 advantage.
In the sixth inning, Breeden connected on a one-out triple and came across to score on Roach's hard hit single up the middle to put the Greyhounds on the board. The game was stopped and later called due to wet field conditions.
DuBois (3-0) went 5.1 innings, allowed a run, walked four and struck out eight in the victory. UIndy's Amanda Wendlinger (Cedar Lake, Ind.) tossed five innings, scattered five hits, allowed five runs, one earned, walked five and struck out one.
Tusculum returns to action on Monday when it hosts Lander for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Indianapolis will continue its East Tennessee road trip, with Sunday's doubleheader at Lincoln Memorial.