PEMBROKE, N.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team opened up its 2023 campaign versus West Virginia State on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4) at the UNC Pembroke Invitational. TU needed less than 1:30 to run-rule the Yellow Jackets in a five-inning shutout, 9-0.
Tusculum (1-0) continues its weekend at the event on Sunday (Feb. 5), taking on Kutztown and the hosting Braves. Game times are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
Kallyn Newport, Claire Smeltzer, Sammy Jimenez, and Hannah Hughes each notched multiple hits. Eight of the nine starters recorded a RBI, while seven got into the hit column.
Leading off for Tusculum was Katelynn Hodges. For the first time as a Pioneer (and third in college), Hodges knocked a ball out of the park, cuing up the second pitch she saw.
In the second inning, TU threatened to add to its early lead but it was the lone frame in which the Pioneers were held scoreless. With two outs, Hughes singled to left field. Kylie Darrow reached on one of West Virginia State's four errors, with her teammate speeding around to third.
TU used four hits to plate three in inning three. Newport laid down a bunt for a single, advancing to second on a Yellow Jacket throwing error. She quickly stole third, but Tusculum was down to its last out. Smeltzer stepped in, legging out an infield single, which scored Newport from 60 feet away. Jimenez got in on the fun with her first collegiate hit, a double to bring home a hustling Smeltzer. Hayley Lazo launched the third-straight hit for the Pioneers, a two-bagger to drive in the freshman third baseman.
The fourth frame dealt the biggest blow for Tusculum to bring the run-rule into play. Darrow once again got on base due to a Yellow Jacket error. She stole second and made her way to third on a wild pitch. Newport drove a pitch right back up the middle, followed by an Emily Sappington double. Both Darrow and Newport scored on the respective plays. Makayla Bush made her season debut by stealing third as Sappington's pinch runner. Chloe Freischmidt made her scoring impact with a RBI groundout to tally Bush's run. Smeltzer and Jimenez notched back-to-back singles with two outs. Hailey Berglof was tapped as a pinch hitter. In true form, Berglof recorded a RBI hit. Hughes finalized the score with a double down the left field line to score Jimenez.
Sappington (1-0) got the starting nod in Tusculum's first game of the season, needing just 55 pitches in the five inning run-rule victory. The lefty relented just two hits, while striking out eight Yellow Jackets. She also did not allow a walk. Sappington struck out at least one batter in each inning, including the last three she faced.
