GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University baseball team scored seven runs in its final two innings in the night-cap as the eighth-ranked Pioneers salvaged a split in Sunday night's South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with visiting Newberry College at Pioneer Park.
The Wolves, who were seeing their first game action since Mar. 10, got a stellar pitching performance from Tomas Garcia, Jr., while the pitching duo of Bryce Peterson and Christopher Osment blanked the Pioneers over the last 1.2 innings in securing an 8-7 victory in the series opener.
In the second game, Tusculum overcame a 6-1 deficit scoring five runs in the seventh inning and two unearned runs in the eighth, all with two outs as the Pioneers prevailed 8-7.
Tusculum remains atop the league standings going 18-5 overall and 14-4 in the league. Newberry moves into a two-way tie for second place, along with Wingate University, who the Wolves took three-of-four in last month's series with the Bulldogs.
The Tusculum / Newberry series will wrap-up on Monday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Pioneer Park.
Game 1: Newberry 8, No. 8 Tusculum 7
Luke Orr and Ian Clements posted two hits each, while Sorcia went 5.1 innings with six strikeouts as the Wolves edged the Pioneers 8-7 in Sunday's opener. Newberry finished the game with 10 hits as the visitors jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
The Wolves handed TU starting pitching ace Gunner Becker (5-1) his first loss of the year as he went 2.1 innings where he allowed three hits but walked six, allowing five runs in his 75-pitch performance
TU's Daulton Martin finished with a pair of hits while Brandon Trammell belted his team-leading seventh home run.
Sorcia (4-1) went 5.1 innings where he allowed five hits, seven runs, five earned, four walks and six strikeouts. Osment picked up his first save at Newberry while tossing 1.1 innings.
Game 2: No. 8 Tusculum 8, Newberry 7
Bryson Ford recorded two hits including his two-run homer to highlight a five-run, seventh inning as Tusculum defeated Newberry 8-7 to even the weekend series at a game apiece.
Luis Ezra and Trammell added two hits each as reliever Trevor Lloyd pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts, while Mitch McCain tied for the SAC lead with his four save in the ninth inning.
Newberry's Jack Harris finished the game with three hits including his solo homer in the seventh to give the Wolves a 6-1 advantage.
Newberry starter Joe LaFlora went 6.2 innings where he struck out 13 Tusculum batters.
