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Tusculum drops pair on final day of Union Softball Classic

Tusculum drops pair on final day of Union Softball Classic

JACKSON, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday at the Union University Softball Classic, falling 3-0 to Maryville (Mo.) University and 8-2 to the host Bulldogs.

The Pioneers (7-3), who had a six-game winning streak come to an end, will return to action Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at North Greenville University.

Maryville 3, Tusculum 0
Nikki Taylor threw a four-hitter and the Saints (1-2) scored single runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings to defeat the Pioneers.

Taylor (1-1) scattered four singles and benefitted from a Maryville defense that turned a pair of double plays and threw out a runner attempting to steal. Taylor struck out one and did not walk a batter, needing just 60 pitches to go the distance.

Maryville took a 1-0 lead in the third as Courtney Ferguson doubled with one out against Tusculum starter Taylor Plemons, then scored on a single by Sydney Halleen. The Saints added to their lead in the sixth as Bri Livingston led off with a double, took third on a single by Taylor and scored on a sacrifice fly by Casey Ward for a 2-0 Maryville lead.

The Saints added a run in the seventh as Jaclyn Pasakarnis led off with a pinch-single and pinch-runner Ashley Marks moved to third on an error. Halleen then delivered a bunt single to bring home Marks and give Maryville a 3-0 lead.

Tusculum's hits came from Sammie Ward in the first inning, Jenna Restivo in the second, Morgan Mahaffey in the fourth and Emily Hester in the seventh. Halleen went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Maryville while Livingston was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Ferguson finished 2-for-3 with a run.

Plemons (3-2) worked six innings for the Pioneers, allowing six hits and two runs while walking one and striking out one. Davis gave up two hits and an unearned run in the seventh.

Union 8, Tusculum 2
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the third, but the Bulldogs (6-2) tied the game in the bottom of the third before scoring four in the fourth and three in the fifth to pull away for the win.

Winning pitcher Hannah Ridolfi went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in along with Ashley Scott, while Hailey Cummings was 3-for-3 with a walk as the Bulldogs piled up 13 hits -- all singles -- in the victory. Ridolfi (4-1) allowed four hits and two earned runs with three walks and no strikeouts.

Tusculum opened the scoring in the top of the third as Delaney Guerrero led off with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single by Taylor Battle. After a sacrifice by West, Mahaffey hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Guerrero for a 1-0 Pioneer lead.

Pioneer starter Cayla Cecil retired the first two batters in the third, but an infield single and an error put runners on the corners. Scott then stole second and moved on to third on a throwing error as LaDesha Nelson crossed the plate with the tying run.

Union broke the game open with four runs on six hits in the fourth on an RBI single by Abby Swilley, a run-scoring groundout by Ridolfi and a two-out, two-run single from Scott which gave the Bulldogs a 5-1 lead.

In the fifth, the Bulldogs scored three more runs on an RBI single by Peyton Mathis and a two-run single by Ridolfi to take an 8-1 lead. Tusculum answered with a two-out run in the sixth as Hester walked with two outs, Restivo followed with a single and Rachel Wisner delivered a double to drive home pinch-runner Emily White.

Cecil (3-1) gave up eight hits and four earned runs in four innings of work for the Pioneers, while Plemons pitched the final two innings and allowed five hits and three walks. Both pitchers walked one and struck out one while in the circle in the game.

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