GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team split its second doubleheader of the weekend, taking Sunday's (Feb. 19) opener against Columbus State.
Tusculum (7-8) is in the midst of a lengthy home stand, continuing with Bluefield State on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 21). First pitch from Red Edmonds Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 4, Columbus St. 2
Ireland Cavanaugh pitched a complete game, while Sammy Jimenez reclaimed the TU lead with her first career triple. Four Pioneers recorded a multi-hit game (Emily Sappington, Hannah Hughes, Hayley Lazo, and Jimenez).
Cavanaugh faced early inning trouble as CSU started off the day with a double and a walk. However, a strikeout and a pair of flyouts to the outfield kept the game scoreless.
Maddie McBride drew a walk, advancing all the way to third on a Hughes single. Lazo singled through the left side, scoring McBride with ease.
The Cougars took advantage of a TU miscue in their two-run third inning. Tusculum was able to make a play at the plate to limit the damage and record an out.
The Pioneers had a big third frame to retake the lead. Sappington singled through the left side and her catcher Chloe Freischmidt waited out a walk. Italia Kyle pinch ran for Sappington, scoring on Hughes' two-out single. Lazo loaded the bases with her infield single. Jimenez was picked to pinch hit and took advantage of the opportunity. She rewarded the Pioneers with a bases-clearing triple.
TU tacked on its last run in the fifth. Hughes singled to left and Jimenez hustled out an infield hit. Katelynn Hodges notched a hit and, thanks to an errant Cougar throw, Hughes was able to touch home.
Columbus State attempted a comeback with two outs in the seventh via a pair of runners in scoring position, but Hughes caught a popup in shallow left to close the book on game one.
Cavanaugh (2-3) went the distance for Tusculum. Throughout 123 pitches, she finished with two runs (one earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Game 2: Columbus St. 9, Tusculum 2
A trio of home runs off the Cougar bats downed the Pioneers, including a first-inning grand slam. TU left 11 runners on base, having the bases loaded in multiple innings.
Columbus State dealt a big, early blow with its four-run homer, which followed two hits and a walk.
Madison Watts led off the second frame with a double to center. McBride was hit by a pitch and Hughes legged out a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Three of the next four Pioneers struck out, but Kallyn Newport drew a RBI walk to put a run on the board for Tusculum.
Again, in the fourth inning, TU had the bases loaded with nobody out. Hughes walked, followed by consecutive bunts singles by Hodges and Newport. However, the Pioneers did not capitalize.
CSU added a three-run blast in the fifth to extend its lead to 7-1.
The Cougars widened the gap to 9-1 after a leadoff solo homer and a RBI infield single. Columbus State attempted to score with two outs, but a well-executed fielding effort ended with a tag at the plate.
Tusculum got a run back after back-to-back doubles by Freischmidt and Jimenez.
Sappington (5-4) collected the pitching decision, tossing just 2.1 innings. She faced 12 batters, four scoring, with three hits, two walks, and one strikeout across 55 pitches. Keylon Reynolds ate up 3.2 innings in relief, relenting five runs on five hits, two walks, and a strikeout. Makayla Bush pitched the final inning of the day. She allowed two hits in the outing.
