HARTSVILLE, S.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team picked up a sweep in the Palmetto State, downing Coker in a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Sunday (Mar. 24).
Tusculum (15-16, 5-5 SAC) stays on the road for more series in South Carolina. The Pioneers face Anderson on Wednesday (Mar. 27), with the twinbill starting at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 9, Coker 4
The Pioneers scored in five-of-seven innings to withstand a late Cobra rally.
After Claire Smeltzer's first inning single, Emily Sappington and Ellie Alvarez strung together consecutive two-out hits to score the lead runner.
Tusculum added on in the second. Abby Hunter knocked a two-out double to left field, quickly stealing third. Brooke Smith capitalized with a hit to center, giving the Pioneers a 2-0 edge.
TU continued to pile on the runs with three in the third. Gabi Nicholson drew a leadoff walk, going all the way to third as Sappington reached on an error. Maddie McBride singled to plate Nicholson, advancing to second on a wild pitch. With both Sappington and McBride in scoring position, Sammy Jimenez drove a pitch to center, plating both teammates.
Jimenez added on with a leadoff homer in the fifth. Makayla Bush reached on an error and was bunted over by Hunter. With Smith's third hit of the game, she drove in her second run.
Coker finally broke through in the sixth, using a two-run homer and back-to-back doubles to plate four.
The Pioneers loaded the bases in the seventh to bring back some separation. Jimenez and Hunter drew walks and Smith was hit by a pitch with two outs. Smeltzer singled to right to score a pair.
Emily Sappington (5-4) picked up the win, going 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on 11 hits. The left-hander walked three, but struck out four. Natalie Spaitis (Sv., 2) earned her second save after 1.1 frames. She relented just one hit and walked two, striking out one.
Game 2: Tusculum 9, Coker 6
A five-run second inning proved to be the difference, powering TU to a SAC sweep.
Smith led off the nightcap with a single to center, followed by a steal of second. She advanced on a Smeltzer groundout and was driven in on a Nicholson sacrifice fly.
Coker took its first lead of the series in the bottom half of the inning. The Cobras used three hits to plate two runs.
Tusculum quickly took its advantage back with five runs on seven hits. Alvarez and Jimenez singled in back-to-back at bats, with the lead runner scoring on a McBride groundout. Four-straight hits by Alyssa Barbrick, Hunter, Smith, and Smeltzer scored three runs and forced a pitching change. Sappington notched a two-out single for the final run of the frame.
The TU bats stayed hot in the third as well. The first six batters reached on either singles or a fielder's choice play, resulting in a pair of runs.
The Cobras used four hits to plate a run in the bottom of the frame, making the score 8-3.
A leadoff double scored for the home team in the fifth to lessen the margin.
Tusculum plated its final run in the sixth. Alvarez singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. She scored on a groundout by Jimenez.
Coker scored a run in both the sixth and seventh, but the TU lead was too great.
Spaitis pitched the first 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout. Ireland Cavanaugh (5-8) earned the win in relief, tossing 4.1 frames of three-run (two earned), five-hit ball, also walking three.
