MARS HILL, N.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team earned its first two South Atlantic Conference victories on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 11) in the visit to Mars Hill.
Emily Sappington continues her historic career by elevating into three ties. She now shares first in saves (5), second in shutouts (13), and eighth in complete games (45).
Tusculum (13-14, 2-6 SAC) returns to the Tar Heel State on Tuesday (Mar. 14) for a 1 p.m. twin bill against the Catawba Indians.
Game 1: Tusculum 8, Mars Hill 0 (6 inns.)
The Pioneers belted a season-high three home runs in the mercy-rule shutout of the Lions. Tusculum used four two-run innings to secure its first league win of the year.
Kallyn Newport led off the contest with an infield single, followed by Sammy Jimenez with a base hit of her own. The duo advanced 60 feet on a ground out and were driven in by their pitcher Sappington.
After Jimenez led off the third with an infield single, Claire Smeltzer made Mars Hill pay with her fourth career homer, tying her for the team lead this season.
For the second-straight frame, a two-run homer provided the scoring. Hannah Hughes singled and Newport drilled her first home run of the season to left field.
Hughes also hit her first homer of the season as the sixth's first batter. Madison Watts notched a pinch-hit single. Italia Kyle returned to run and was bunted over by Newport. Jimenez was hit by a pitch and Kyle advanced to third on a fly out by Smeltzer. The lead runner Kyle scored on a wild pitch.
The Tusculum defense backed up Sappington after a leadoff hit was erased on a double play by Hayley Lazo at first base. In the second, Chloe Freischmidt caught a runner stealing third, while Jimenez applied the tag. A fifth inning two-out bunt attempt was thwarted by Jimenez and Katelynn Hodges.
Sappington (6-7) surrendered five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts across 25 batters faced.
Game 2: Tusculum 5, Mars Hill 4
Each team had a four-run inning in the late stages, so an early sacrifice fly by Sappington proved to be the difference.
Tusculum's first score came in the third inning. Newport led off with her first of two doubles in game two. Jimenez drew a walk and Smeltzer reached on an error to load the bases. Sappington sent a shot to the outfield and Newport was able to touch home.
The Pioneers scored four more in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-0. Newport had another leadoff double and was able to advance to third on an error. Jimenez drove her in on a single to the outfield. Smeltzer's single put runners on the corners before she stole second with no outs. Sappington reached on a fielder's choice, as the throw was to the plate, but Jimenez was ruled safe. Sappington stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Freischmidt laid down a squeeze bunt and Smeltzer scored from third. Makayla Bush entered as a pinch runner for Sappington at third base. Hughes hit a two-out single to center and Bush scored easily.
Mars Hill hit back in the bottom of the sixth with four of its own. The Lions used five hits and an error to close the advantage to only one. However, MHU was sat down in order by Sappington in the seventh to seal the sweep.
Ireland Cavanaugh (5-6) was credited with the win after 5.2 innings of work. She allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Keylon Reynolds successfully closed out the sixth. Sappington threw the final frame to pick up the save, recording two additional strikeouts.
