GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team was dealt its first sweep of the year by the Carson-Newman Eagles on Saturday afternoon. A late-inning breakdown gifted the in-state foe game one 11-7, followed by a near shutout 7-2.
The Pioneers (14-6) return to Red Edmonds Field on Tuesday (March 10) against North Greenville, looking to stop their three-game skid.
Game 1: Carson-Newman 11, Tusculum 7
A collapse in the top of the seventh inning allowed Carson-Newman to plate nine runners and overtake the lead from Tusculum, putting the game out of reach.
The day started well for the Pioneers after Ivee Richesin sat down the Eagle lineup in order. Anna Alloway returned to her hitting ways with a single down the left field line and advanced to third on an Alexis Grampp double the opposite way. Grayson Brown also singled down the left line, scoring both runners.
Carson-Newman plated two runners in the third to tie the game, both with two outs.
Bree Whitson and Alloway responded in the fourth innings via homeruns. Sammie West singled through the left side to lead off. Whitson stepped up, launching her second homer of the week and her career, giving the home team a 4-2 advantage. With two outs, Alloway, on a seven-game drought, drove a ball over the left field fence to extend the lead to three.
The Eagles did not back down without a fight going into their last three outs. Carson-Newman ended up scoring nine runs in the inning. This included seven with two outs and six unearned.
Brown hit a moonshot over the scoreboard in left center with Alloway on base to make the final 11-7 in the visitor's favor.
Richesin collected a no-decision after pitching five innings in her start. She allowed just one earned run on six hits, a walk, and two strikeouts.
Game 2: Carson-Newman 7, Tusculum 2
The Eagles kept their momentum going into the second game, shutting out Tusculum 7-0 until the final inning.
Alloway added another homerun to her season total with the two-out slug. Additionally, Whitson was on base after drawing a walk as the leadoff batter.
Richesin also started game two and suffered just her second loss of the year. The junior saw two innings of action, allowing three runs, five hits, one walk, and a single strikeout.
