GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team split its home-opening doubleheader against Concord on Tuesday (Feb. 6) by scores of 10-2 and 9-0. Sammy Jimenez hit the program's first grand slam since the 2022 season in the game one victory.
Tusculum (3-3) continues its lengthy homestand on Friday (Feb. 9) with a single game against Hillsdale. First pitch between the Pioneers and Chargers is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Red Edmonds Field.
Game 1: Tusculum 10, Concord 2 (5 inns.)
Jimenez's second inning blast was the offensive highlight of the contest, while Emily Sappington shut down the Mountain Lion bats from within the circle.
Gabi Nicholson broke the early scoreless tie in the bottom of the first in her debut at Red Edmonds Field. Jimenez drew a one-out walk with Claire Smeltzer singling through the left side. Nicholson stepped in for a double to right field to switch places with Jimenez.
After being hit by a pitch to lead off the second frame, Brooke Smith stole second. Danielle Jason bunted for a single to put runners at the corners before stealing a bag herself. Abby Hunter worked a walk to bring up Jimenez with no outs. She dropped her second homer of the season beside the scoreboard in left center. Later on in the inning, Kylie Darrow pinch ran for Nicholson, who earned a walk, and scored on Ellie Alvarez's at bat via a Mountain Lion error.
Concord did their scoring in the third inning after a leadoff walk and an errant throw plated both runners.
Nicholson, Riley Hope, and Alvarez recorded three-straight singles to load the bases with one out. Alyssa Barbrick dropped a double down the left field line to plate the first two runners. Jason tacked on two more runs with a single back up the middle, scoring Barbrick and Alvarez, putting the run-rule into motion.
Sappington (1-0) tossed the 51st complete game of her TU career, tying her for sixth in the program record book with Laura Williams (2001-04). The left-hander struck out seven batters, allowing two hits with two walks, and two unearned runs.
Game 2: Concord 9, Tusculum 0
Smeltzer extended her hitting streak to a sixth game, joined by Jimenez with an on-base streak of the same length. Seven Pioneers recorded a hit, as six were left on base.
Concord scored first with a solo home run in the third, piling on four more in the fourth. The Mountain Lions scored two unearned in the sixth and had a two RBI triple in the seventh for emphasis.
Ireland Cavanaugh (1-1) was tabbed with the loss, despite giving up only one run over three innings. The senior also struck out five Mountain Lions and walked two. Nyah Vogel faced six batters with four scoring on three hits and a walk. Natalie Spaitis finished out the nightcap, tossing 3.2 innings. She struck out five, scattered six hits, and had four runs score (two earned).
