GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- For the third-straight series, the Tusculum University softball team came out winners in the nightcap, needing extra innings to salvage the split in the home finale versus Lee.
Tusculum (24-19, 10-10 SAC) is on the road for the final two SAC series of the regular season, starting with the rescheduled tilt at UVA Wise on Thursday (Apr. 21).
Game 1: Lee 12, Tusculum 7
With a combined eight unearned runs scoring, the opener of the Tusculum and Lee doubleheader was error-filled. The Flames left 11 runners on base, compared to the Pioneers' two. Katelynn Hodges went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored.
Lee had its first two batters reach on Tusculum errors within a span of five pitches. Adding in four hits, the Flames scored three times to take an early lead.
The Pioneers were able to tie the contest in the second frame, plating three with two outs. Anna Alloway drew a walk and Hannah Hughes reached on a fielding error to put two on. Alyssa Suits singled through the right side to score the lead runner Alloway. Hodges doubled to left center to drive in her two teammates.
The Flames took the lead for good in the third inning. Lee scored three times on four walks, two hits, an error, and a pair of fielder's choice decisions.
Lee tacked on five more runs in the fourth, aided by a three-run triple.
Tusculum got four scores back in the bottom half of the inning. Claire Smeltzer and Alloway notched back-to-back singles. Suits added a single to load the bases after the Lee catcher dropped a foul pop-up. Hodges singled to left center, followed by Madison McGinnis drawing a four-pitch walk to keep the line moving. Kallyn Newport launched a sacrifice fly to left to score Suits. Hodges was also able to cross home on an errant throw by the left fielder.
The Flames added one more score in the sixth on a bases-loaded free-pass.
Keylon Reynolds recorded all 21 outs across 148 pitches. She relented nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits, five walks and two strikeouts. Makayla Bush (0-1) made her collegiate pitching debut in the third against the Flames, but walked all three batters she faced on 15 throws. The trio all scored, but only two were earned.
Game 2: Tusculum 2, Lee 1 (8 innings)
In the second half of the doubleheader, no offense was to be found until the eighth inning using situational hitting.
Each team had a first inning batter walk, but both were caught attempting to steal as the third out of the frame.
There were no perfect innings, with at least one batter on both sides reaching base in every frame.
In the top of the eighth, the Flames had a runner placed on second and a sacrifice bunt moved her over. Lee quickly had the bases loaded with one out after a fielding error and an intentional walk. The Pioneers were able to get the second out, but a walk scored the game's first run.
Tusculum needed to score at least one for the contest to continue, but TU walked it off. Hodges was placed on second base and moved up 60 feet on an Alloway groundout. Newport walked to put runners on the corners. Hayley Lazo doubled down the left field line, ricocheting off of the third baseman's glove, to score Hodges and advance Newport to third. Chloe Freischmidt drove the 10th pitch of her at-bat to center field to easily plate her teammate and clinch the split.
Emily Sappington and Ireland Cavanaugh (11-5) had the joint effort in the circle. The former started the contest, going four innings of three-hit ball with four strikeouts and one walk. Cavanaugh pitched the final four innings, surrendering three hits, one unearned run, two walks, and five strikeouts.
