GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Columbus State University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader against Tusculum College on Sunday, utilizing a pair of late-inning scoring efforts to notch victories of 6-3 and 8-3 at Red Edmonds Field.
Columbus State (20-25-1) out-hit the Pioneers (14-18) by a 21-13 margin on the day, including a 9-3 advantage in game two. Rocky Hemmer, Carrie Jones, and Brittany Leverett led Columbus State with four hits each as Leverett paced a group of four Cougars with multi-RBI days.
Britni McCall (7-8) got the nod in game one for the Cougars, allowing three unearned runs on two hits in four innings of work as Kristi Bullard tossed three scoreless frames of relief to preserve the win for McCall. Kelsey Gilliam (2-4) allowed one run on four hits in four innings of work to pick up the win in game two. Courtney Darr entered in relief in the fifth, allowing two runs in one inning of work before Jennifer Isasi hurled two shutout frames to pick up her fourth save of the season.
Tusculum's Savannah Ewing continued her torrid hitting of late, pacing the Pioneers with three hits as the sophomore has batted .368 in her last six games. Ewing led a group of five Pioneers with multi-hit days as Brittany Hunley, Taylor MacDonald, Phlyscia Powell and Racheal Wilburn each tallied a pair of base knocks. Powell and MacDonald each drove in a pair of runs to lead four Pioneers with at least one RBI.
Holli Cadenhead (6-8) made the start in game one, pitching the full seven innings while allowing two earned runs on nine hits and tying a season-high with eight strikeouts. Erin Searcy (6-8) got the nod in game two, allowing five runs on seven hits in three innings of work. Ashley Wilson allowed three runs in four innings of relief.
Game One: Columbus State 6, Tusculum 3 (Box Score)
Columbus State got on the board first in game one, taking a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by Jones. Tusculum responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, taking a 3-1 advantage on a bases loaded walk by MacDonald and a two-run single by Powell after the inning was allowed to continue on a Cougar error.
The Cougars answered with four unearned runs in the top of the fourth, reclaiming the lead at 5-3 on a two-run single by Christie Thompson. Columbus State added a late run in the top of the seventh to equal the final margin of 6-3 on an RBI base-knock by Kori Waugh.
Game Two: Columbus State 8, Tusculum 3 (Box Score)
Columbus State took an early 3-0 in the top of the first, pushing across a trio of runs on three hits, including an RBI single by Hemmer. The Cougars widened the lead with two runs in the fourth, pushing the lead to 5-0 on a two-run home run to left by Leverett.
Tusculum trimmed the margin to 5-1 with a run in the bottom of the inning when Shanda Kimbrough crossed the plate after ripping a one-out double to left center. The Pioneers kick-started the rally with two more runs in the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-3 on a fielder's choice by MacDonald and a pinch-hit RBI single by Hunley. Isasi entered in the sixth to shut the door, allowing a trio of singles in two innings of work as the Cougars added a trio of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to equal the final margin of 8-3.
The Pioneers return to the diamond on Tuesday when they host Mars Hill College to resume their South Atlantic Conference schedule. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Red Edmonds Field.
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