The Tusculum College softball team improved to 4-0 in the South
Atlantic Conference with a doubleheader sweep of Mars Hill College
Saturday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field. The Pioneers defeated the
Lions 7-1 in the opener and 4-1 in the nightcap as Elizabeth
Johnson threw a pair of complete games to improve her record to
18-6.
The Pioneers (21-12, 4-0 SAC) return to action Tuesday afternoon
with a doubleheader at Lincoln Memorial University, beginning at 2
p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 7, Mars Hill
1
(Box Score)
The Pioneers scored in each of the first five innings in the opener
and collected a season-high 13 hits, including three from Kaytlin
Stroinski and two apiece from Savannah Ewing, Ashley Burke and
Katie Brennan. Meanwhile, Johnson gave up just an unearned run
while scattering seven hits and striking out two to earn the
win.
"We had some people step up at the plate today. I keep telling them
that hitting is contagious, and that proved to be the thing for
us," said Pioneer head coach Fred Gillum. "And Liz did a fantastic
job pitching in game one. We had some really good all-around
play."
Tusculum jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first against Mars Hill
starter Taylor Morris. Nicole Ball singled with one out, moved to
second on a bunt single by Stroinski and scored when Burke's pop
fly to shallow right was dropped for an error.
In the second, the Pioneers extended their lead to 2-0 as Brennan
led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice by Ashley Bagley
and scored on a two-out single down the left-field line by
Ewing.
Mars Hill threatened in the third, putting runners at the corners
with one out, but a double steal attempt failed as the Pioneers cut
down the Lion runner at the plate for the second out. Johnson then
retired the batter on a fly ball to center to keep the score at
2-0.
The Pioneers broke out in the home half of the third, scoring three
runs on four hits to take a 5-0 lead. Stroinski led off with an
infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice by Lindsey Umberger
and scored on a single to right-center by Burke.
After Paige Sneed reached on a fielder's choice, she scored on a
triple to deep right-center by Brennan to give Tusculum a 4-0 lead.
Bagley then followed with a hit to shortstop to plate Brennan for a
5-0 Pioneer advantage entering the fourth.
Tusculum tacked on another run in the fourth as Stroinski singled
on a line drive to third, and came all the way around on a triple
by Umberger to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead.
Mars Hill loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but could
only score one run on a sacrifice fly by Robyn Staney. Tusculum
came back in the bottom of the fifth with a run on back-to-back
doubles by Katy Stuckwish and Ewing with two outs to close out the
scoring in the game.
Morris went 2 2/3 innings for the Lions, giving up eight hits and
five runs (four earned) while striking out three. At the plate,
Ashley McCurry, Shaundee Woosley and Stephanie McGrath all
collected two hits in the opener for Mars Hill.
Game 2: Tusculum 4, Mars Hill
1
(Box Score)
A three-run second inning gave Johnson all the support she would
need to collect her 18th win of the season. She was aided by a pair
of double plays turned by the Pioneer defense, including one she
started herself, and gave up just an unearned run on four hits.
Ewing came through with the big hit in game two for the Pioneers, a
two-run double in the second that gave Tusculum a 2-0 lead. Brennan
and Stuckwish each collected two hits apiece, with Brennan scoring
a pair of runs and Stuckwish driving home one.
Morris got the start in game two for the Lions and worked around a
two-out single by Stroinski in the first, but ran into trouble in
the second with two outs and nobody on base. Brennan singled to
left and Bagley followed with a looper that hit the chalk down the
right-field line to put runners on the corners. Stuckwish followed
with a single through the left side to bring home Brennan for a 1-0
Pioneer lead, and Ewing added a double to the gap in left-center to
drive in Bagley and Stuckwish to push Tusculum ahead 3-0.
Tusculum added a run in the fourth as Brennan led off with a single
and moved to second on a sacrifice by Bagley. Stuckwish followed
with a single up the middle to advance Brennan to third, and she
scored as the throw from center field was off line and went to the
backstop.
Johnson retired the first 12 batters she faced until Natalie
Haithcox looped a single to shallow center to lead off the fifth
inning. Morris followed with a single to right, but Haithcox went
too far around second and Stuckwish threw behind her to Umberger at
short, who tagged out Haithcox between second and third for the
first out. After a walk, Johnson got out of trouble when Kendra
Reeder hit a hard grounder that Umberger flagged up the middle and
turned into a double play to end the frame.
Mars Hill (16-14, 3-3 SAC) kicked up another rally in the sixth,
loading the bases on a single, a throwing error and a bunt single.
However, Johnson was able to induce a comebacker that she turned
into a 1-2-3 double play to leave runners at second and third with
two outs. The Lions were able to score a run, though, as a pickoff
throw to second led to a failed rundown, and the runner from third
was able to cross the plate.
"Any time you are able to get two conference wins, it's a great
day. Again, Liz came up and did a super job against a team that has
three hitters as good as any hitters in our league," said Gillum.
"Give a lot of credit to our defense too. We continue to get
superior play from our defense, turning some double plays and
getting us out of jams. Overall, I'm very pleased."
Morris (10-9) gave up eight hits and four runs (three earned) in 3
1/3 innings in game two for Mars Hill. Reliever Sarah Kruysman came
on in the fourth and kept the Pioneers hitless over the final 2 2/3
innings.