Softball splits pair with Newberry

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Carolyn Williamson and Alix Kruel combined for four hits and four RBIs in Tusculum College's 5-1 win over Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference softball action from Red Edmonds Field on Friday. The Wolves won the second game of the doubleheader 6-2.

TC's overall record is now at 15-17 and 5-9 in the SAC while Newberry now sits at 24-16 overall and 9-5 in the league. The Pioneers will return to action on Tuesday when they travel over the mountain to take on Mars Hill University. First pitch of the Twinbill is set for 2 p.m.

Rachel Medley gave up just one earned run in a complete-game effort in the circle and the Pioneers knocked off the Wolves 5-1 in the first game of the doubleheader.

Medley (6-9) scattered five hits and tallied two strikeouts in the winning effort. Newberry's Maude McCourry took the loss after surrendering five earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts.

Williamson and Kruel were both 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs apiece, with both of Kruel's coming on a triple. Robin Stoner had a double as a part of a 2-for-3 effort from the dish, while Nichole Ball had a base hit which plated a run.

Stoner opened the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff double and then moved to third on a single by Bailey Culler. Stoner scored on Williamson's base hit while Culler moved to second. Kruel's triple plated both runners in the next at bat as TC took a 3-0 lead through two frames.

The Wolves cut into the Pioneer lead with a run in the top of the fourth off an RBI groundout by Ann Dee Priest. Tusculum added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Stoner opened the frame with a leadoff single before Taylor Lewis drew a walk to move Stoner into scoring position.

Later in the inning, Stoner scored off Ball's single and Lewis moved over to third. McCourry was able to induce a one-out groundout by Williamson, but Lewis was able to cross the plate safely to make the score 5-1. Priest opened the top of the seventh with a leadoff single, but Medley was able to get the next three batters in order to seal the Pioneer victory.

During the game, Ball became the all-time assist leader in Tusculum softball history with 423.

Hailey Drawe hit a three-run homer in Newberry's 6-2 win over Tusculum to earn a doubleheader sweep. Culler and Stoner each had a hit and an RBI for the Pioneers.

The Wolves pushed across a run in the top of the first and second innings. Treslyn Reese opened the bottom of the second with a leadoff double and later came around to score on Cullers' RBI two-bagger, which cut the Wolves lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the third frame, TC loaded the bases with two outs after Kruel and Reese reached base via walks and Brooke Rhodes singled. Stoner drove-in a run with a base knock through the left side of the infield that tied the game at 2-2. However, Rhodes was gunned down by Newberry left fielder Gabby Bedard trying to score from second to end the threat.

In the top of the sixth inning Newberry took a 3-2 lead on an RBI single by Priest. With two runners aboard, Drawe stepped up to the plate and crushed a homer to left center field that pushed the Wolves' lead to 6-2.

TC was able to put two runners on in the bottom half of the sixth but Ball grounded into a double play to end the inning. Newberry's Brittany Middleton sat down the Pioneer batters 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to give the Wolves the victory.

Middleton (5-5) earned the win in the circle with six strikeouts despite four walks. Eliza Davis (8-7) took the loss with six earned runs. Medley pitched one and two-thirds innings in relief while recording a strikeout and not allowing a hit. Katylin Stroinski also tallied a double for Tusculum.