JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team had a pair of games slip away at Carson-Newman on Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 11).
Tusculum (20-23) takes another break from SAC action with a Saturday (Apr. 15) trip to Belmont Abbey. The doubleheader between the Pioneers and Crusaders is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Carson-Newman 7, Tusculum 3
Chloe Freischmidt belted the 20th home run of her storied Pioneer career, while Kallyn Newport, Sammy Jimenez, and Hayley Lazo accounted for the remaining hits.
Carson-Newman scored first after striking out the Tusculum side to begin the game. The Eagles used a two-run homer to earn the early edge.
TU responded with Freischmidt's bomb in the top half of the second. Lazo singled to center to bring up the catcher. On the fourth pitch that she saw, Freischmidt hit a no-doubter over the left center wall.
With runners on second and third with two out, the Eagles retook the lead on an infield single.
C-N added two more insurance runs in the fifth on back-to-back triples.
Tusculum was able to capitalize on Newport's leadoff double in the sixth. The speedy centerfielder stole third and was able to race home on Jimenez's single.
The Eagles tallied their final two scores on a double to left.
Emily Sappington (8-11) threw five innings of five-run ball on 103 pitches. She surrendered nine hits (five for extra bases), two walks (both intentional), and four strikeouts. Keylon Reynolds closed out the contest with two runs on two hits with two walks (one intentional). She faced six batters and threw 23 pitches.
Game 2: Carson-Newman 13, Tusculum 12 (8 innings)
The Pioneers had a seven-run lead evaporate as the Eagles capped off the sweep with a walk-off in the eighth. TU drew a season-best nine walks, the highest total in over four years. Additionally, Claire Smeltzer tied her career-high with four RBI.
Newport led off the second game with a four-pitch walk, stealing second, followed by Jimenez with a free pass of her own. Lazo laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Smeltzer got her first RBI after a fielder's choice and an error by the Eagles, allowing both teammates to score.
C-N hit another two-run homer to quickly bring the contest back to a tie.
Tusculum did the biggest damage in the second, scoring four. Hannah Hughes knocked the first pitch into left, ahead of Ireland Cavanaugh's walk and Katelynn Hodges bunt single to load the bases. Newport drew an 11-pitch walk to bring in the lead runner Hughes. Lazo was the inning's third walk to score another Pioneer. Smeltzer again hit into a fielder's choice, but Hodges was able to plate the run. Freischmidt reached on a throwing error, allowing Newport to come home. Smeltzer attempted to score from second on Madison Watts' single but was thrown out at the plate.
TU extended its lead to seven with three runs in the fourth. Jimenez singled and advanced on a wild pitch, followed by Lazo reaching on an error. Smeltzer took the first pitch back up the middle to load the bases with only one out. Jimenez was able to score on a wild pitch. Freischmidt continued the onslaught with a two RBI double to left center. Cavanaugh worked an 11-pitch walk with two out after Hughes singled, but a fly out closed the frame.
Carson-Newman began its comeback in the fifth with three runs and a grand slam in the sixth.
Newport was placed on second base via the international tiebreaker to start the eighth. Lazo doubled to left center to trade places with Newport. Smeltzer hit her team-leading sixth homer of the year to have a three-run cushion heading into C-N's half of the inning.
The Eagles finalized the come-from-behind victory with three singles, two intentional walks, and two sacrifice flies.
Cavanaugh (9-8) tossed nearly every pitch in her 7.2 innings. She relented 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits with four intentional walks and a strikeout across 137 throws. Sappington issued a pair of walks in her short stint.
