GAFFNEY, S.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team suffered a pair of run-rule setbacks at Limestone on Sunday (Apr. 2) by identical 8-0, 8-0 scores.

Tusculum (19-20, 6-12 SAC) makes the quick turnaround to host King (19-16) in a non-conference series on Monday (Apr. 3). The in-state foes are set for a 2 p.m. twin bill start.

Game 1: Limestone 8, Tusculum 0 (5 innings)
The Saints shut down the Pioneers, allowing only one hit and a walk.

Hayley Lazo drew a leadoff walk in the second, which was negated by a double play. Sammy Jimenez tallied the hit, a single, in the fourth.

Limestone scored in four of its five innings, highlighted by a four-run opening frame. Two walks and two hits in the bottom of the fifth secured the game-ending run rule.

Emily Sappington (8-10) was tabbed for the start but only went 0.1 innings and recorded the decision. She surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits with a walk, facing seven batters. Keylon Reynolds finished out the opener, tossing 3.2 innings. She relented four runs (three earned) on seven hits, three walks, and struck out six (tying her season-high).

Game 2: Limestone 8, Tusculum 0 (6 innings)
Game two was much of the same. Tusculum strung together a pair of hits and walks, but Limestone clinched the run-rule in the sixth.

Jimenez legged out an infield single in the first. Madison Watts drew a leadoff walk in the second, advancing as Hannah Hughes reached on a throwing error, but a double play ended the threat. Kallyn Newport reached on a fielding error but was out on a Jimenez fielder's choice in the third. In the fourth inning, Riley Hope reached first on an error, followed by a one-out single by Hughes, but the next two batters struck out. Katelynn Hodges earned a walk as the Pioneers' last base runner to leadoff the fifth.

Limestone plated at least one run in three frames, opening the scoring in the third on four runs (three unearned). The Saints walked off the Pioneers on a wild pitch in the sixth.

Ireland Cavanaugh (8-7) pitched four innings as the starter. She allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Makayla Bush closed out the day with 1.2 innings in relief, giving up one earned run on one hit, alongside three walks and two strikeouts.