Tusculum College and Carson-Newman University split a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field, as the Eagles took the opener 7-5 in 10 innings before the host Pioneers earned a 7-2 win in game two.

The Pioneers (20-30, 5-15 SAC) conclude their regular season Saturday afternoon against Catawba. First pitch on Senior Day is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Game 1: Carson-Newman 7, Tusculum 5 (10 innings) - box score
Down to their last strike, the Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Robin Stoner, but the Eagles scored twice in the 10th to take the lead for good.

Kristen Toppel went 3-for-5 for the Eagles, including the go-ahead single in the 10th, while Alli Webster struck out 15 in a 10-inning complete game victory for Carson-Newman, which left 16 runners on base.

Jordan Keene hit a two-run home run for the Pioneers, who overcame deficits of 3-1 and 5-3 to force extra innings. Carolyn Williamson and Emily Hester each went 2-for-5 at the plate for the Pioneers.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first against Pioneer starter Cayla Cecil on an RBI single by Lindsay Dean and a bases-loaded walk to Katie Pritchett. The Pioneers came back with a run in the bottom of the first as Miranda Beeler and Williamson led off with back-to-back singles, with Beeler scoring on a single by Hester.

Carson-Newman added a run in the second on a two-out error to go on top 3-1, but Tusculum knotted the game in the bottom of the fourth as Hester led off with a double, and pinch-runner Emily White scored on a home run to left-center by Keene, her first of the season.

In the fifth, the Eagles went back on top 5-3 on a two-run double by Talisa Fiame, but the Pioneers were able to pull within 5-4 in the sixth when Stoner led off with a single, and pinch-runner Taylor Lewis scored on a single to center by Morgan Ward.

Tusculum tied the game off Webster with two outs in the seventh as Williamson singled and moved to second on a passed ball. On a full count, Stoner grounded a single up the middle and Williamson came around to score the tying run.

Carson-Newman threatened in the eighth as they loaded the bases with no outs against Tusculum reliever Taylor Plemons. However, Eliza Davis came on and got out of trouble with three popups to preserve the 5-5 tie.

Tusculum put a runner at third with one out in the eighth, and Carson-Newman did likewise in the ninth, but neither team was able to break through and the game went on to the 10th inning tied 5-5.

In the 10th, the Eagles went ahead 6-5 on a single by Toppel, and a two-out error allowed her to score and give Carson-Newman a 7-5 lead. The Pioneers had runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but a pair of fly balls to center ended the game.

Cecil worked 4 2/3 innings for the Pioneers, allowing six hits and five runs (three earned) with five walks and three strikeouts. Plemons came on in the fifth and escaped a bases-loaded jam, then worked through the seventh inning while striking out two and walking one.

Davis (9-15) worked the final three innings for the Pioneers, giving up two hits and two unearned runs. Webster (19-9) allowed eight hits and five runs (four earned) with two walks to go along with her 15 strikeouts.

Game 2: Tusculum 7, Carson-Newman 2 - box score
The Pioneers jumped to an early 6-0 lead, and Davis (10-15) took care of the rest as she allowed six hits and one earned run in her 10th complete game of the season. Beeler went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored, while Keene was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in for the Pioneers.

Tusculum took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Carson-Newman starter Danielle Kranz as Beeler and Williamson led off with singles, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on a two-out single by Keene.

In the second, the Pioneers plated four runs on just one hit as they took advantage of a pair of fielder's choice plays and four walks. Bailey Culler led off with a single, pinch-runner Lewis stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice. Taylor Battle walked and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out, and Lewis beat out a throw to the plate on a ground ball to second by Beeler to extend the Pioneer led to 3-0.

After a walk to Williamson, Stoner was safe at first on another fielder's choice for a 4-0 Tusculum lead. A wild pitch brought home Beeler to put the Pioneers on top 5-0, and Ward walked with the bases loaded to force home Williamson for the sixth run of the game.

The Eagles (29-17, 14-6 SAC) threatened in the fourth as they put runners on first and third with no outs, but Davis retired the side on a strikeout, popup and fly ball to preserve the 6-0 lead. Carson-Newman finally broke through for a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Toppel, and added another run in the sixth on a wild pitch.

Tusculum closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth as Stoner led off with a double, and pinch-runner White scored on a throwing error on an infield single by Keene.

Kranz (5-7) allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) while walking six in 5 2/3 innings of work for the Eagles. No player in the Carson-Newman lineup had more than one hit in the game.

Tusculum stole five bases on the day to increase their season total to 104, which leads the SAC and is a school record for steals in a single season.