BRISTOL, Tenn. --- Despite having the early lead in both contests, the Tusculum University softball team was unable to fight off King's comeback on Tuesday (Mar. 8) afternoon.

Tusculum (13-10, 0-2 SAC) begins a seven-series South Atlantic Conference stretch with Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday (Mar. 12) at 2 p.m.

Game 1: King 7, Tusculum 5
The Pioneers had double-digit hits (10) for the ninth time this season, but were unable to hold a second inning lead. Hayley Lazo, Claire Smeltzer, Kallyn Newport, and Kylie Longmire each tallied a pair of knocks.

King struck first on back-to-back doubles in the opening frame.

Tusculum responded with four runs on four hits with an error in the second. Lazo led-off with a single back up the middle, followed by a Smeltzer double to put them both in scoring position. Newport reached on an infield throwing mistake, allowing Smeltzer to advance and Lazo to score. Newport quickly stole second. In her first start of the season, Kaylee Higgins took advantage of the opportunity. She doubled in her teammates to hand the Pioneers a 3-1 lead. Higgins jogged home on Mya Maddox's third triple of the year.

The Tornado exploded with five hits and six runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead.

TU got one back in the third. Lazo singled to center field, advancing to second on a Smeltzer groundout. Newport stood in and knocked a single to right center, plating a hustling Lazo.

Tusculum threatened with runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, but was unable to convert.

Ireland Cavanaugh (5-3) started the opener but lasted only two innings. She allowed seven runs on seven hits, striking out just one batter. Keylon Reynolds pitched the final four innings in scoreless relief. She struck out four with four hits and two walks.

Game 2: King 2, Tusculum 1
Emily Sappington did it on both sides of the ball in the nightcap, striking out 10 and reaching in all three plate appearances. However, King used walks and bases-loaded opportunities to tag her with the loss.

The Pioneers' scored their lone run within two batters of the pitchers' duel. Maddox teed off a single to begin game two. Katelynn Hodges had a foul pop-up to the first baseman as Maddox went to the races. In her attempt to slide into second, the second baseman mishandled the ball. Maddox sprinted to third as the throw went wild. She got up and scored with ease.

The Tornado started the fourth with consecutive singles. Sappington's first walk of the outing loaded the bases. King used a sacrifice fly to tie the contest at 1.

A double and three-straight walks brought in the eventual winning run for the home team.

Tusculum had scoring opportunities in the second, fourth, and fifth. Sappington had a lead-off walk and advanced to second with a groundout as the first out, moving no further. She knocked a single up the middle in the fourth and Higgins launched a double to left center with two outs, putting the second run 60 feet away. The best chance came in the fifth. Maddox was hit by a pitch to lead off and stole second. Hodges laid down a sacrifice bunt to bump her to third. The next two batters popped up to shortstop, stifling the threat.

Sappington (6-5) pitched her 10th complete game of the season. She struck out six Tornado (four of them twice) with only two earned runs. All four of Sappington's free-passes were issued in a two-inning span.