GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team finished out the regular season with a sweep of Belmont Abbey on Monday (Apr. 22), highlighted by a pair of complete games by the Pioneer pitching staff.
Tusculum (29-20, 15-9 SAC) travels to Wingate, North Carolina for the opening round of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The fifth-seeded Pioneers are scheduled to face fourth-seeded and nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday (Apr. 26) at 3:30 p.m. in the double-elimination event.
Game 1: Tusculum 6, Belmont Abbey 1
A six-run inning by the Pioneers, combined with Emily Sappington's near shutout, equaled an opening win in a regional battle.
The game started out with the makings of a pitchers' duel as neither hurler relented a run entering the fifth inning. Belmont Abbey was the first to have a runner touch third. With two outs in the frame, the Crusaders loaded the bases behind two walks and a hit batsman. However, Ellie Alvarez caught the popup at shortstop to end the threat three pitches later.
Tusculum's first hit came in the fourth but exploded for six runs on seven hits in the fifth inning. Abby Hunter legged out an infield single to leadoff, followed by stealing second. Sammy Jimenez drew a four-pitch walk, as Maddie McBride laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Danielle Jason doubled through the left side to plate her teammates. Brooke Smith bunted and stole second as the Pioneers had a pair of runners in scoring position with one out. Claire Smeltzer drove a single through the right side to clear the base path in front of her. Alvarez doubled to center and Smeltzer hustled home for the fifth run. After a pitching change by the Crusaders, Sappington singled and Caylen Conrad entered as a pinch runner. Gabi Nicholson walked while Alvarez was caught in a rundown at third as the runners attempted a double steal. However, Conrad scored shortly after on a wild pitch. Tusculum worked the bases loaded with a hit by Hunter and a second walk by Jimenez but were unable to enforce the run-rule.
Four of the first five batters of the seventh singled for the Crusaders to score their only run.
Emily Sappington (13-5) won her eighth-straight start after nearly shutting out the Crusaders. The left-hander tossed 121 pitches, allowing one run on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts, lowering her season earned-run average to 2.33.
Game 2: Tusculum 6, Belmont Abbey 4
For the first time this season, a TU pitcher not named Emily Sappington tossed a complete game. Freshman Natalie Spaitis overcame a rocky start to throw the first complete game of her collegiate career.
Five of the first six half innings featured scoring, while the final seven were scoreless.
BAC scored three runs on five hits in the first, including a span of four-straight knocks bookended by strikeouts.
TU responded with a run in the bottom half of the frame. Jason and Smith singled in consecutive at bats, followed by Smeltzer's walk to load the bases with no outs. Sappington reached on a fielder's choice to plate Jason as the Crusaders sacrificed a run for an out.
Belmont Abbey added on a run in the second with two singles and a speedy runner.
Tusculum pulled back within one during the next half inning. Madison Watts singled to right field, advancing on a Spaitis groundout. With two outs, Jason walked as both she and Watts scored on the next play. Smith singled to center to plate the lead runner with ease, while Jason came in on the fielding error.
Spaitis pitched a 1-2-3 inning on 10 pitches to send the Pioneers back to the plate in the third. Alvarez singled on the first pitch to right center. Nicholson reached on a fielding error, advancing on the throw attempting to catch Alvarez sliding into third. The latter scored on Hunter's single back up the middle as both runners claimed an extra base. With Spaitis at the plate, the Belmont Abbey pitcher tossed two wild pitches, allowing both runners to score as she worked a walk.
The respective pitchers and defense went into lockdown for the remainder of the game, solidifying a sweep for Tusculum.
Spaitis (5-2) went the distance, tossing 112 pitches across the seven frames. She surrendered four runs on 10 hits, striking out five.
