GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team split a non-conference showing against nearby King University on Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 4) at Red Edmonds Field.
The split broke a 12-series streak of sweeps for the Pioneers, six in favor of TU and six against, dating back to February 19 against Columbus State.
Tusculum (20-21, 6-12 SAC) returns to South Atlantic Conference action when it hosts UVA Wise (8-24, 3-15 SAC) for a Friday (Apr. 7) matinee. The Pioneers and Cavaliers are scheduled to begin the doubleheader at 1 p.m.
Game 1: King 6, Tusculum 0
Despite a career performance by Makayla Bush in the circle, the Pioneers were held scoreless for the third-straight game.
King was able to score its first run without a hit as the leadoff batter was plunked, stole second, advanced on a flyball, and came home on a passed ball.
The Tornado added a two-run homer in the third to extend their lead to 3-0.
King scored three more times with two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Six Pioneers recorded the six Tusculum hits (all singles), aided by two walks from another pair. Sammy Jimenez notched a two-out knock in the first, while Maddie McBride walked in the second. Kylie Darrow tallied a hit in the third. In the fourth, Chloe Freischmidt reached on an error, followed by a Hannah Hughes infield single. Kallyn Newport recorded her hit in the fifth. TU also strung together back-to-back hits in the sixth by Madison Watts and Freischmidt. Italia Kyle drew a pinch-hit walk as the Pioneers' final base runner in the seventh.
Keylon Reynolds (3-4) got the start in the opener, facing 15 batters across three innings. She relented three runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Bush pitched the final four in relief. She surrendered three runs on five hits with two walks, highlighted by a collegiate-best seven strikeouts. Bush struck out four of the first five batters she faced.
Game 2: Tusculum 4, King 3
The Pioneer catchers stole the show in game two. Watts had a perfect game at the plate, tallying three hits in three at-bats, alongside a RBI. Freischmidt hit a two-run shot, her fourth of the season, as she went 2-for-3. Newport also had a multi-hit showing with a pair of singles and two steals.
Tusculum attempted to take a lead early on a risky play. Newport led off and quickly stole second. She advanced to third on Kylie Darrow's fielder's choice. The duo was unsuccessful on a double-steal as Newport was out at the plate.
Watts hit a single down the left field line to start the second, but three consecutive groundouts followed.
The third frame was similar to the first. Newport raced out a single and stole second. She moved up an additional 60 feet on a passed ball. Darrow walked to put runners on the corners. For a second time, the double-steal ended up with Newport out at the plate, but Darrow smartly advanced to third. She scored as Jimenez reached on a fielding error that should have been the third out. Freischmidt took advantage for her 19th career home run as well, putting TU up 3-0.
King nearly scored in the fourth but a heads up play by Ireland Cavanaugh kept the Tornado scoreless for the moment. Consecutive singles started the frame, followed by back-to-back fielder's choice plays. On the last one, the runner at third attempted to score but Cavanaugh got the ball to Watts for the out at the plate.
Of Tusculum's four runs, only one was earned. In the fifth, Darrow and Freischmidt singled to put runners on the corners. Watts singled for the third hit of the frame, scoring Darrow with ease from third.
King finally broke through in the sixth after two hits and fielder's choice. The Tornado added two unearned runs on a homer in the seventh to finalize the score.
Ireland Cavanaugh (9-7) pitched a complete game, throwing 120 pitches across seven innings. She allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks, while striking out four Tornado.
