WINGATE, N.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team upset a ranked Lenoir-Rhyne program for the second time this month, taking the opening round game of the South Atlantic Conference Championship, 6-4. The Pioneers have reached the 30-win marker for the first time in a decade.
Tusculum (30-20) now faces the top seed in the tournament and No. 7 team in the country, the Wingate Bulldogs. The day one winners will square off at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday (Apr. 27), with the loser playing again at 5 p.m. to avoid elimination.
Emily Sappington (14-5) won her ninth-straight start, outdueling fellow all-conference utility/pitcher Lauren Rakes. The left-hander tossed all seven frames on 126 pitches. She allowed four runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
In the billed pitchers' duel, it was a pitcher that scored the first run. Sappington cued up a 3-2 pitch from Rakes, belting her second home run of the season, tying her career-best output.
Tusculum was able to tack on a pair of runs in the third to extend its lead to 3-0. Danielle Jason drew her second walk of the contest, scoring on Brooke Smith's single through the left side which was aided by an outfield throwing error. With two outs, Ellie Alvarez singled to the right to plate fellow infielder Smith.
Lenoir-Rhyne broke up the shutout with a four-run fifth inning, taking over the lead in the process. The Bears used five hits (four singles) and Sappington's lone walk.
Down to its last three outs, the Pioneers made their comeback. Sammy Jimenez went from an 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk. Abby Hunter bunted a single over the head of the infielders to put two on with no outs. Jason came through in crunch time. She raced down the line, forcing the pitcher to make a quick throw that went high. Both runners scored on the play as Jason wound up at third. Smith followed, laying down a squeeze bunt to plate Jason.
Trailing once again, LR led off the home half of the inning with a double. The next batter reached on an error. Sappington faced the remaining batters with the winning run at the plate. She got the next two Bears to strike out swinging, with a flyout to end the game.
