Tusculum College and Newberry College split a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, as the Wolves (26-18, 7-11 SAC) won the opener 5-0 and the Pioneers (18-28, 4-14 SAC) took game two 5-4 in 10 innings.

Tusculum will be back in action on Monday afternoon with a non-conference doubleheader at King scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game 1: Newberry 5, Tusculum 0 - box score
Maude McCourry threw a two-hit shutout and drove in a pair of runs for the Wolves, who broke open a scoreless game with two runs in the fourth before adding two more in the fifth and one in the sixth.

McCourry (14-8) struck out four and walked three, with the Pioneers' only two hits coming on back-to-back singles from Carolyn Williamson and Robin Stoner in the top of the third inning.

Newberry took the lead in the fourth on McCourry's two-run single to right field, and added two more in the fifth on a two-run single from Jeri Loffler. The Wolves' final run came in the bottom of the sixth on an error, and McCourry finished off the shutout by working around two Pioneer baserunners in the seventh.

Taylor Plemons (2-8) tossed her second consecutive complete game for the Pioneers, allowing five hits and five runs (four earned) with two walks and three strikeouts. Rachel Wisner reached in all three of her plate appearances for Tusculum, drawing a pair of walks and being hit by a pitch.

Game 2: Tusculum 5, Newberry 4 (10 innings) - box score
Emily Hester knocked in runs in the eighth and 10th innings and the Pioneers survived three potential game-winning rallies by the Wolves to escape with the victory in game two.

Tusculum took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Newberry starter Devon Morrison as Miranda Beeler led off with an infield single, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Stoner. The Wolves came back with two runs in the bottom of the second against Pioneer starter Cayla Cecil on RBI singles by Sam Robillard and Christina Linton, and held the lead until the sixth inning.

With one out in the sixth, Beeler picked up another infield single and move to second on a sacrifice. A throwing error on a grounder by Stoner allowed Beeler to score the tying run, and a dropped fly ball in the outfield enabled pinch-runner Taylor Lewis to score the go-ahead run for a 3-2 Tusculum lead.

However, Newberry tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a pinch-hit RBI double by Mallory Gerndt. On the play, the Wolves tried to score the winning run, but right fielder Jordan Keene and second baseman Bailey Culler combined to throw out the runner at the plate to preserve the tie.

Tusculum went ahead 4-3 in the top of the eighth as Stoner singled with two outs, took second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Hester. After the Pioneers left the bases loaded, the Wolves came back to tie the game in the last of the eighth on a throwing error.

The Wolves had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth as they put a runner on third base with no outs, but Davis retired the side on a groundout, popup and strikeout.

Tusculum took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th as Hester came through with a sacrifice fly to plate Williamson with the go-ahead run. Newberry had one last rally as they put runners on first and third with two outs, but Eliza Davis got the final out on a line drive to center to secure the victory for Tusculum.

Davis (9-14) tossed 8 2/3 innings of relief for the Pioneers, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts and three walks. Morrison (9-9) worked all 10 innings for the Wolves, giving up seven hits and five runs (two earned) with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

Beeler went 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base and two runs scored for the Pioneers, while the run scored by Williamson in the 10th enabled her to become the eighth player in program history to score 100 career runs.