GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University softball lost game one to Wingate, but the Pioneers rallied to take the nightcap over the Bulldogs on Tuesday (Apr. 6). Scores for the contests were 1-0 and 4-3, respectively.
Tusculum (13-13, 7-7 SAC) has only a few hours to prepare for the journey to rival Carson-Newman. The Pioneers and Eagles do battle on Wednesday (Apr. 7), starting at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Wingate 1, Tusculum 0
Dual pitching threats Emily Sappington and Aubrey Reep of Wingate went toe-to-toe in the circle and in the batter's box. The Bulldog thrower came away with the victory, but the Pioneers did not give up an earned run.
The only score of the contest happened in the top of the first inning. A one-out triple brought Reep up to bat, who reached on a throwing error. The two-base miscue allowed the runner to score easily.
Tusculum's most promising threat was in the bottom of the seventh. Looking for a walk-off, Kiley Longmire opened the frame with a single and Chloe Freischmidt bunted her over. Angela Masiello pinch ran for Longmire, moving over on a Sappington ground out. Claire Smeltzer stepped in with two outs, but fouled out.
In seven innings of work, Sappington (5-6) struck out five, allowing only three hits, one walk, and one unearned run.
Game 2: Tusculum 4, Wingate 3
After an unproductive game one, the second part of the doubleheader had an exciting, aggressive beginning. The bottom half of the TU order got on base, while the top converted it into runs.
Anna Alloway singled to start, followed by Alexis Grampp going to second on a two-base error. With a pair in scoring position, Longmire doubled to left. Alloway scored, but Grampp was thrown out at the plate. A deep Sappington single gave Longmire enough time to run home.
Wingate's first chance to score came in the third. A lead-off double and a walk had two runners on. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher, but a heads up play by Keylon Reynolds got the lead runner out. A ground out advanced each runner 60 feet, placing a pair in scoring position. Reep then flew out.
TU also had a chance to do more damage. Alloway cued up a double and a Grampp ground out moved her one base closer. After a Bulldog pitching change, Longmire put runners on the corners via an infield error. Freischmidt got hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. A fielder's choice caught Alloway sliding for home and a fly out ended the inning.
The Bulldogs tied up the game in the fourth. Three consecutive two-out hits brought in two runs.
Another chance for the Pioneers followed suit. Hayley Lazo notched a single and a Brittney Franse bunt put her on second. A wild pitch advanced her to third with two outs. TU could not convert.
Wingate threatened again in the fifth, including a bases-loaded situation, but the Pioneer defense held tough. The Bulldogs took the lead in the next inning, courtesy of three-straight hits again.
Tusculum, looking to avoid the sweep, scored twice with two outs in the bottom half of the sixth. Lazo, Maddox, and Alloway launched near-consecutive singles, plating the lead runner and forcing another pitching change. Maddox was able to score after Grampp reached on the Bulldogs' third error of the game.
Sappington entered in a save opportunity, retiring the side to seal the victory.
Reynolds got the start and went 3.2 innings with three strikeouts and two earned runs. Madison Michael entered in relief for 1.2 frames. Nancy-Jo Roberts (1-0) earned her first collegiate win with less than an inning of work. Sappington picked up her second save of the season to close out the Bulldogs.
