Tusculum College and Newberry College split a South Atlantic
Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, as the
Wolves (26-18, 7-11 SAC) won the opener 5-0 and the Pioneers
(18-28, 4-14 SAC) took game two 5-4 in 10 innings.
Tusculum will be back in action on Monday afternoon with a
non-conference doubleheader at King scheduled for 2 p.m.
Game 1: Newberry 5, Tusculum 0 - box score
Maude McCourry threw a two-hit shutout and drove in a pair of runs
for the Wolves, who broke open a scoreless game with two runs in
the fourth before adding two more in the fifth and one in the
sixth.
McCourry (14-8) struck out four and walked three, with the
Pioneers' only two hits coming on back-to-back singles from Carolyn
Williamson and Robin Stoner in the top of the third inning.
Newberry took the lead in the fourth on McCourry's two-run single
to right field, and added two more in the fifth on a two-run single
from Jeri Loffler. The Wolves' final run came in the bottom of the
sixth on an error, and McCourry finished off the shutout by working
around two Pioneer baserunners in the seventh.
Taylor Plemons (2-8) tossed her second consecutive complete game
for the Pioneers, allowing five hits and five runs (four earned)
with two walks and three strikeouts. Rachel Wisner reached in all
three of her plate appearances for Tusculum, drawing a pair of
walks and being hit by a pitch.
Game 2: Tusculum 5, Newberry 4 (10 innings) - box score
Emily Hester knocked in runs in the eighth and 10th innings and the
Pioneers survived three potential game-winning rallies by the
Wolves to escape with the victory in game two.
Tusculum took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Newberry
starter Devon Morrison as Miranda Beeler led off with an infield
single, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a
groundout by Stoner. The Wolves came back with two runs in the
bottom of the second against Pioneer starter Cayla Cecil on RBI
singles by Sam Robillard and Christina Linton, and held the lead
until the sixth inning.
With one out in the sixth, Beeler picked up another infield single
and move to second on a sacrifice. A throwing error on a grounder
by Stoner allowed Beeler to score the tying run, and a dropped fly
ball in the outfield enabled pinch-runner Taylor Lewis to score the
go-ahead run for a 3-2 Tusculum lead.
However, Newberry tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a
pinch-hit RBI double by Mallory Gerndt. On the play, the Wolves
tried to score the winning run, but right fielder Jordan Keene and
second baseman Bailey Culler combined to throw out the runner at
the plate to preserve the tie.
Tusculum went ahead 4-3 in the top of the eighth as Stoner singled
with two outs, took second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI
single by Hester. After the Pioneers left the bases loaded, the
Wolves came back to tie the game in the last of the eighth on a
throwing error.
The Wolves had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth
as they put a runner on third base with no outs, but Davis retired
the side on a groundout, popup and strikeout.
Tusculum took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th as Hester came
through with a sacrifice fly to plate Williamson with the go-ahead
run. Newberry had one last rally as they put runners on first and
third with two outs, but Eliza Davis got the final out on a line
drive to center to secure the victory for Tusculum.
Davis (9-14) tossed 8 2/3 innings of relief for the Pioneers,
allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts
and three walks. Morrison (9-9) worked all 10 innings for the
Wolves, giving up seven hits and five runs (two earned) with 10
strikeouts and two walks.
Beeler went 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base and two runs
scored for the Pioneers, while the run scored by Williamson in the
10th enabled her to become the eighth player in program history to
score 100 career runs.