GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team upset No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne in an extra-inning walk-off in game one before falling in game two to the Bears on Monday (Apr. 15).
Tusculum (24-19, 14-8 SAC) finishes out its scheduled home slate with Young Harris on Tuesday (Apr. 16) in a non-conference doubleheader.
Game 1: Tusculum 5, #19 Lenoir-Rhyne 4 (8 innings)
The Pioneers rallied from a 4-1 deficit entering the bottom of the seventh to walk off the nationally-ranked Bears in extra innings, scoring all five unanswered. Danielle Jason was the lone player for TU to record multiple hits, including the game-winner.
Lenoir-Rhyne scored all four of its runs in the second inning. With two outs, the Bears used a single and an error to score a runner from second, followed by a three-run homer on the very next pitch.
Tusculum avoided the shutout with a run in the third. Abby Hunter and Jason notched back-to-back singles. Brooke Smith's groundout advanced the runners and Hunter was able to score on Claire Smeltzer's following groundout.
Gabi Nicholson homered on the second pitch of the fourth inning to cut the lead to two.
With one out in the seventh, Smeltzer hit a first-pitch double down the left field line. Ellie Alvarez tied the game with her ninth home run of the season. Facing a 2-0 count, Alvarez fouled off five-straight pitches before shooting one over the centerfield fence to bring new life to the Pioneers and extend the game.
With the international tiebreaker in play, the Bears started with a runner on second, advancing on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter lined out to Maddie McBride but the runner hesitated and did not tag up. The following batter popped out to end the LR threat.
Sammy Jimenez was the runner placed at second for the Pioneers in the bottom of the eight. Emily Sappington laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance Jimenez to third. With two outs, Hunter drew a walk on a 3-2 count. Jason singled back up the middle on the second pitch of the at bat to easily plate Jimenez and walk off the Bears.
Emily Sappington (10-5) earned her 10th win of the season in the upset duel. Tossing eight innings, the left-hander allowed four runs on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts across 120 pitches.
Game 2: #19 Lenoir-Rhyne 12, Tusculum 1
The Bears used 17 hits and five TU errors to send 12 across the plate in the nightcap.
LR started the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning.
Tusculum responded with a run in the bottom half of the frame, aided by three wild pitches by the Bears. Nicholson took the first pitch back up the middle, moving up on an errant toss. Alyssa Barbrick joined the basepath after being hit by a pitch. Both advanced on the second wild pitch. McBride worked a walk after starting off 0-2, as LR tossed four-straight balls, including ball four which was the final wild pitch to score Nicholson.
Lenoir-Rhyne scored at least one run in the final six innings, highlighted by four runs in the seventh.
Ireland Cavanaugh (8-10) was tagged with the loss after going 2.2 innings in the start. She allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Natalie Spaitis relieved Cavanaugh, going 2.2 frames herself. The freshman surrendered five runs (two earned) on seven base hits and six punchouts. Keylon Reynolds pitched the final 1.2 innings as four runs (three earned) crossed the plate on five hits, adding two walks and one strikeout.
