The Tusculum College softball team improved to 4-0 in the South Atlantic Conference with a doubleheader sweep of Mars Hill College Saturday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field. The Pioneers defeated the Lions 7-1 in the opener and 4-1 in the nightcap as Elizabeth Johnson threw a pair of complete games to improve her record to 18-6.

The Pioneers (21-12, 4-0 SAC) return to action Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader at Lincoln Memorial University, beginning at 2 p.m.

Game 1: Tusculum 7, Mars Hill 1
(Box Score)

The Pioneers scored in each of the first five innings in the opener and collected a season-high 13 hits, including three from Kaytlin Stroinski and two apiece from Savannah Ewing, Ashley Burke and Katie Brennan. Meanwhile, Johnson gave up just an unearned run while scattering seven hits and striking out two to earn the win.

"We had some people step up at the plate today. I keep telling them that hitting is contagious, and that proved to be the thing for us," said Pioneer head coach Fred Gillum. "And Liz did a fantastic job pitching in game one. We had some really good all-around play."

Tusculum jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first against Mars Hill starter Taylor Morris. Nicole Ball singled with one out, moved to second on a bunt single by Stroinski and scored when Burke's pop fly to shallow right was dropped for an error.

In the second, the Pioneers extended their lead to 2-0 as Brennan led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice by Ashley Bagley and scored on a two-out single down the left-field line by Ewing.

Mars Hill threatened in the third, putting runners at the corners with one out, but a double steal attempt failed as the Pioneers cut down the Lion runner at the plate for the second out. Johnson then retired the batter on a fly ball to center to keep the score at 2-0.

The Pioneers broke out in the home half of the third, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 5-0 lead. Stroinski led off with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice by Lindsey Umberger and scored on a single to right-center by Burke.

After Paige Sneed reached on a fielder's choice, she scored on a triple to deep right-center by Brennan to give Tusculum a 4-0 lead. Bagley then followed with a hit to shortstop to plate Brennan for a 5-0 Pioneer advantage entering the fourth.

Tusculum tacked on another run in the fourth as Stroinski singled on a line drive to third, and came all the way around on a triple by Umberger to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead.

Mars Hill loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but could only score one run on a sacrifice fly by Robyn Staney. Tusculum came back in the bottom of the fifth with a run on back-to-back doubles by Katy Stuckwish and Ewing with two outs to close out the scoring in the game.

Morris went 2 2/3 innings for the Lions, giving up eight hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out three. At the plate, Ashley McCurry, Shaundee Woosley and Stephanie McGrath all collected two hits in the opener for Mars Hill.

Game 2: Tusculum 4, Mars Hill 1
(Box Score)

A three-run second inning gave Johnson all the support she would need to collect her 18th win of the season. She was aided by a pair of double plays turned by the Pioneer defense, including one she started herself, and gave up just an unearned run on four hits.

Ewing came through with the big hit in game two for the Pioneers, a two-run double in the second that gave Tusculum a 2-0 lead. Brennan and Stuckwish each collected two hits apiece, with Brennan scoring a pair of runs and Stuckwish driving home one.

Morris got the start in game two for the Lions and worked around a two-out single by Stroinski in the first, but ran into trouble in the second with two outs and nobody on base. Brennan singled to left and Bagley followed with a looper that hit the chalk down the right-field line to put runners on the corners. Stuckwish followed with a single through the left side to bring home Brennan for a 1-0 Pioneer lead, and Ewing added a double to the gap in left-center to drive in Bagley and Stuckwish to push Tusculum ahead 3-0.

Tusculum added a run in the fourth as Brennan led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Bagley. Stuckwish followed with a single up the middle to advance Brennan to third, and she scored as the throw from center field was off line and went to the backstop.

Johnson retired the first 12 batters she faced until Natalie Haithcox looped a single to shallow center to lead off the fifth inning. Morris followed with a single to right, but Haithcox went too far around second and Stuckwish threw behind her to Umberger at short, who tagged out Haithcox between second and third for the first out. After a walk, Johnson got out of trouble when Kendra Reeder hit a hard grounder that Umberger flagged up the middle and turned into a double play to end the frame.

Mars Hill (16-14, 3-3 SAC) kicked up another rally in the sixth, loading the bases on a single, a throwing error and a bunt single. However, Johnson was able to induce a comebacker that she turned into a 1-2-3 double play to leave runners at second and third with two outs. The Lions were able to score a run, though, as a pickoff throw to second led to a failed rundown, and the runner from third was able to cross the plate.

"Any time you are able to get two conference wins, it's a great day. Again, Liz came up and did a super job against a team that has three hitters as good as any hitters in our league," said Gillum. "Give a lot of credit to our defense too. We continue to get superior play from our defense, turning some double plays and getting us out of jams. Overall, I'm very pleased."

Morris (10-9) gave up eight hits and four runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings in game two for Mars Hill. Reliever Sarah Kruysman came on in the fourth and kept the Pioneers hitless over the final 2 2/3 innings.