GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Brandon Trammell and Zane Keener recorded six RBI and a home run apiece, while four Tusculum pitchers combined on a pair of shutouts as the Pioneers swept a South Atlantic Conference baseball doubleheader over UVA Wise Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Park.
Tusculum (7-1, 4-0 SAC) won Saturday's opener 10-0 in five innings, while the Pioneers completed the four-game weekend sweep over the Cavaliers (0-5, 0-4 SAC) with a 15-0 victory in seven innings in the series finale. TU extends its winning streak to six in a row.
This marks the first time Tusculum has posted a pair of shutouts in a SAC doubleheader. It also marks the first occasion TU has swept a doubleheader via two shutouts since defeated Stillman 5-0 and 9-0, five years ago to the day (Feb. 27, 2016).
Game 1: Tusculum 10, UVA Wise 0
Brandon Trammell's grand slam highlighted a six-run frame and TU starter Keegan Ernest pitched a five-inning, three-hit shutout as Tusculum blanked UVA Wise 10-0.
The Pioneers totaled six only six hits, but also drew eight walks and a pair of hit batters to get runners aboard.
Tusculum scored twice in the first inning thanks to a fielding error, two walks and a Trammell sacrifice fly. TU added six more in the second as 11 batters went to the plate for the home team. The Pioneers drew five walks with the big blow coming on Trammell's towering blast to right field for his third homer of the season.
Tusculum added two runs in the fifth inning including Keener who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Bryson Ford ended the game with his sacrifice fly out to bring home Jordan Beaver from third base.
Fuzzy Furr went 2-for-2 for the Pioneers while scoring twice while Keener and Ford also crossed the plate on two occasions.
UVA Wise's Tyler Blaum accounted for two of his team's three hits in the game.
Ernest (1-0) threw 85 pitches where he walked four and struck out four in the win.
Game 2: Tusculum 15, UVA Wise 0
Tusculum erupted out of the gate with seven runs in the opening inning en route to a 15-0 victory in seven innings.
TU starter Tyler Harmon (1-1) recorded his first collegiate victory as he posted nine strikeouts and tossed five shutout innings. Harmon scattered five hits and walked a batter in the win.
Tusculum posted 14 hits in the game including seven doubles which are tied for the fourth-most in program history. Keener went 3-for-4 at the plate where he scored three times, totaled five RBI with a double and his first collegiate homer.
Trammell accounted for two hits including a double while Jaden Steagall finished with two hits in the victory. The Cavs' Gabe Wurtz went 2-for-3 for the visitors in the losing effort.
The Pioneers got five hits and three walks in the first inning as Keener posted a single and a three-run double in the frame. Ford contributed a RBI on his third double of the season. Trammell also had a RBI double while catcher Chase Wullenweber drove in a pair with his third double of the year.
Tusculum added two unearned runs in the third inning on Kyle Williams team-leading fourth double of the year for a 9-0 lead. TU added a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth on Keener's two-run blast to right field to cap the scoring.
Joining Harmon on the shutout were Justin Parker and Drew Miller who pitched an inning each and recorded two strikeouts apiece as well.
The Pioneers out-scored the Cavaliers 47-9 on the weekend and out-hit UVA Wise 47-20. Tusculum batted .412 in the four-game with 21 of the 47 hits being of the extra-base variety including 16 doubles and five home runs. TU also drew 22 walks and four hit batters as the Pioneers had a team on-base percentage of .510.
Tusculum used seven pitchers on the weekend, limiting the Cavs to a .198 team batting average and posted a 2.33 team earned run average.
The Pioneers return to action next weekend as they travel to Mars Hill for a four-game series at Henderson Field.
