Tusculum College and North Greenville University split a
non-conference softball doubleheader Monday afternoon at Red
Edmonds Field, with the visiting Crusaders (14-7) taking the opener
7-0 behind a two-hitter from Rachel Glazebrook, and the Pioneers
(12-14) coming back with a 4-0 victory in the nightcap as Kelly
King tossed a one-hitter.
The Pioneers will be on the road Thursday at 1 p.m. for a
non-conference twinbill at King.
Game 1: North Greenville 7, Tusculum 0
(Box
Score)
Glazebrook (10-3) struck out eight and walked one and allowed
infield singles to Nicole Ball in the third and Miranda Beeler in
the sixth en route to her sixth shutout of the season. She also
helped her own cause at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a double
and three runs batted in, while Shayna Finley was 3-for-4 with a
double, three RBIs and two runs scored.
After a scoreless two innings, the Crusaders broke through against
Pioneer starter Eliza Davis with a run in the third on an RBI
single by Finley, and tacked on a second run in the fourth on a
strikeout-wild pitch. In the fifth, North Greenville added two runs
on an RBI double by Finley and a run-scoring single by Glazebrook
for a 4-0 lead.
The Crusaders took control with three runs in the top of the sixth,
all with two outs. Finley had an RBI single and Glazebrook roped a
two-run double during the outburst. Glazebrook finished off her
shutout by striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
Davis (1-4) allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs in six innings
for the Pioneers, striking out four and walking one. Rachel Medley
pitched a perfect seventh inning for Tusculum, striking out a
pair.
Game 2: Tusculum 4, North Greenville 0
(Box
Score)
King (9-6) fired her fifth shutout of the season as she allowed
just a first-inning single to Glazebrook en route to her 14th
complete game in as many starts. She had a season-high eight
strikeouts and issued just one walk while needing just 89 pitches
to get through seven innings.
Tusculum pounded out 10 hits in the game, including two hits apiece
from Robin Stoner, Paige Sneed and Carolyn Williamson. Stoner
reached in all three trips to the plate on two singles and a walk,
while Williamson singled twice, stole a base and scored two
runs.
The Pioneers opened the scoring in the first against Crusader
starter Sarah Armstrong (4-2) as Williamson led off with a single,
stole second and scored on an RBI single by Tavi Parris. After
leaving runners at second and third with no outs in the second,
Tusculum tacked on a run in the third when Kaytlin Stroinski led
off with a double and scored on a two-out single by Sneed for a 2-0
lead.
In the fourth, Tusculum added two runs against reliever Cassi
Carpenter as Williamson singled with one out, moved to second on an
illegal pitch and scored on a bad throw on Beeler's infield single.
Stroinski would follow and bring home Beeler with the fourth run on
a perfect squeeze bunt to first base.
The Pioneers had a chance to add to their lead in the fifth,
loading the bases with two outs on a single by Stoner, an error and
a walk to Alix Kruel. However, Carpenter escaped trouble by
inducing a comebacker for the final out. However, the game belonged
to King as she retired 11 of the final 12 batters she faced,
including a grounder to short to end the game.
Armstrong allowed seven hits and two runs in three innings of work
for the Crusaders, striking out four and walking one. Carpenter
yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits in three innings of
relief, with one strikeout and one walk.
