GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Second baseman Daulton Martin became Tusculum University's all-time hits leader as the Pioneers swept a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Queens University of Charlotte Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Park.
Tusculum jumped out a 7-0 lead and held off a late-game charge as the Pioneers prevailed 7-3 in the series opener. The Pioneers scored four times in the eighth inning and reliever Mitch McCain recorded three strikeouts in the ninth to leave the game-tying runs on base in a 12-11 victory in the night-cap.
Tusculum improves to 13-2 overall and 9-1 in SAC play to remain atop the league standings. The Pioneers also improves to 9-1 at home and record their eighth consecutive home victory.
Martin recorded a pair of hits in the first game including a home run for his 261st and 262nd hits of his career bringing him within one of Tusculum Sports Hall of Famer Josh Wolff's 263 career hits, a record which has stood since 2006. Martin tied the record with hit No. 262 with his second homer of the day. He broke the record an inning later with his infield RBI single for hit No. 263.
Game 1: Tusculum 7, Queens 3
The Pioneers got home runs from Martin and Brandon Trammell, while TU pitcher recorded his fourth straight win of the season in Tusculum's 7-3 victory over Queens.
Tusculum scored three runs each in its first two innings as Becker blanked the Royals through the first six innings. The Pioneers accounted for seven hits, while also drawing seven walks.
The Pioneers batted around in the first inning as Bryson Ford drew a one-out walk and move to second on Martin's bunt single. A wild pitched moved up the runners to set up Trammell's two-run single. TU would later load the bases as Trey Hinton drew a RBI walk for a 3-0 lead.
Tusculum tacked on three more runs in the second as Martin skied a two-run blast over the right field wall. Trammell followed with a solo shot to right field for a 6-0 TU lead. For Trammell, it was his team-leading sixth homer of the season.
Meanwhile, Becker limited Queens to just three hits in the first six frames while working out of a couple of jams along the way. TU added a run in the bottom of the sixth on Chase Wullenweber's RBI double down the left field line, his sixth of the year.
In the top of the seventh, the Royals made some noise as the first four batters got aboard with three of them eventually scoring. Becker got a double-play which brought in the inning's second run. A pinch-hit RBI double from Nick Brassington, followed by a base hit from Noah Jones chased Becker out of the game. Senior Trevor Lloyd had runners on the corners with two outs and the game-tying run on deck. Lloyd ended the game on one pitch as Carter Foster grounded out.
Becker (4-0) went 6.2 innings, allowed eight hits, three runs, three walks and three strikeouts in his 98-pitch effort. Queens starter Wes Boling (1-2) suffered the loss for the visitors.
TU designated hitter Trey Hinton walked three times including the 100th of his career becoming the fifth player in program history to eclipse the century mark. He becomes the quickest to 100 walks in career, achieving the feat in his 100th career game on Saturday.
Game 2: Tusculum 12, Queens 11
Tusculum rallied from a late three-run deficit as the Pioneers edged Queens 12-11 in Saturday's second contest.
Tusculum was held without a hit for the final four innings, but the Pioneers scored four times in the eighth thanks to four walks, two hit batters and a Queens error to overcome an 11-8 deficit.
The Royals out-hit the Pioneers 16-6, but Tusculum had four extra-base hits to go along with 11 walks and five hit-batters.
Tusculum starter Nick Flesher worked out of a pair of jams in his first three innings while holding the Royals scoreless. TU scored three times in the third inning including a RBI triple from Zane Keener and Martin's two-run homer for a 3-0 Tusculum lead.
The Royals tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth thanks to RBI singles from Nick Melton and Alex Sexton. The Pioneers responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a three-run triple off the bat of Bryson Ford and Martin's RBI infield single which broke the TU career hits record.
Now ahead 8-3, the Royals took a 9-8 lead scoring six times in the fifth including a two-run single from catcher Anthony Orta and a two-run homer from centerfielder Dominic Ford as Queens took its first lead of the afternoon. The Royals scored two more runs in the seventh to extend the lead to 11-8.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Pioneers sent 10 batters to the plate scoring four times without the help of a hit.
In the top of the ninth, with Justin Parker entering his second inning of relief, the Royals' Drake Harris led off with a single. McClain took over on the mound and Orta's sacrifice bunt was mishandled as the visitors had runners at first and second. But McCain ended the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
Parker (1-0) picked up the victory as he scattered two hits and struck out three in his 1.2 scoreless innings. McCain pitched the ninth to secure his second save of the year
The two teams will close out the four-game SAC series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Pioneer Park.
