GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum softball team swept a
non-conference doubleheader over visiting North Greenville Tuesday
afternoon at Red Edmonds Field. Ashley Whitehead
tossed a three-hit shut out to win the opener 3-0, while the
Pioneers rallied from a 2-1 deficit to capture the night-cap
7-2.
Game 1: Tusculum 5, North Greenville 0
Ashley Basilicato went 3-for-3 with a double and her
seventh home run of the year to lead Tusculum to a 5-0 victory.
Basilicato drove in three of TC's five runs, including a pair on
her two-run blast in the third inning to spot the Pioneers a 3-0
lead.
TC got on the board first when Racheal Wilburn
drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a single by Basilicato and
scored on Jess Greer's RBI hit.
Tusculum added two more runs in the fifth inning, including a run
scoring double by Basilicato.
Whitehead (3-8) was outstanding as she retired the side in order
four times, while accounting for a pair of strikeouts and no walks
in her seven innings of work. NGU starter Kristyn
Smith suffered the loss, falling to 6-11 on the year.
Game 2: Tusculum 7, North Greenville 2
Greer and Shanda Kimbrough accounted for two hits
each as the Pioneers completed the sweep of the Crusaders with a
7-2 win in game two.
Tusculum scored the first run of the contest in the second inning
when Kimbrough reached on a two-out single, moved to second on an
error and scored on a base-hit by Taylor
MacDonald. NGU mounted a two-rally of its own in the third
as Lindsey Eargle singled and scored on Allison
Bailey's fourth home run of the season for a 2-1 Crusader
lead.
The Pioneers answered with three unearned runs in the next frame
as two scored on a fielding error and Kimbrough drove in another
with a single to move TC in front 4-2. Tusculum extended its lead
in the fourth inning as Wilburn connected on a two-out double.
After an intentional walk to Basilicato, Greer and Samantha
Cole followed with back-to-back singles to lead 7-2.
Eargle, Bailey and Kayla Farmer each posted two
hits in the loss for the Crusaders.
Senior starter Megan DuBois evened her record at
6-6 as she went the distance, scattering eight hits, two runs,
walked one and struck out three.
Tusculum (15-22), who has won four of its last six, will host
Tennessee Wesleyan on Thursday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
- TC -