GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team has a full week in store. The Pioneers will open March against Converse (Mar. 1), resume its suspended doubleheader with Lees-McRae (Mar. 3), and begin its South Atlantic Conference schedule against the Bulldogs (Mar. 5).
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (9-6) was only able to get one game fully played during the week, out of a scheduled six. The Pioneers' comeback against Emmanuel fell just short, 8-6.
Mya Maddox and Anna Alloway both notched two hits, while the bench came up big in the latter innings. Maddox (2), Alyssa Suits (2), Alloway (1), and Kallyn Newport (1) drove the runs in for Tusculum.
Down 8-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Tusculum went to its bench for a spark. Madison Watts, who saw her first collegiate action behind the plate in the top of the inning, was pinch hit for by Ashley Harbison. Makayla Bush ran for Harbison after she reached second on a double. Newport capitalized and scored Bush on a hit. Maddie McBride stepped in to hit for her first-ever at bat at Red Edmonds Field, drawing a walk. Madison McGinnis pinch ran and both she and Newport moved into scoring position on a passed ball. A Maddox single to left plated the lead runner Newport. Alloway walked to load the bases with two outs as the rain started coming in sideways. Suits made her lone hit count with a one-bagger through the left side, scoring Maddox and McGinnis. An infield pop-up was the final play and ceased the resurgence.
Nationally, Tusculum is ranked across the top-25 in hit by pitch (19th; 12).
Individually, Emily Sappington is sixth in DII with seven complete games and 23rd with 55 strikeouts. Hayley Lazo is 21st after being hit by four pitches.
LOOKING AHEAD
Converse (0-18) travels to Greeneville before a nine-day hiatus from competition. The Pioneers have won all six games in the series history over the Valkyries, the last two by run-rule. Ryan Finazzo leads the starters with a .250 batting average with 11 hits, five doubles, and six RBI. She has also notched four runs and three walks. Serrah Ballard has been the workhorse for Converse, tossing 49.2 innings across 15 appearances and nine starts. She is 0-8 with a 7.89 ERA with 96 hits (35 for extra bases), 56 earned runs, 14 walks, and 15 strikeouts. The Valkyries are 11th in hits allowed per seven innings, averaging 14.71 given up.
Lees-McRae (4-8) has Lincoln Memorial lined up on Tuesday before continuing the doubleheader at Tusculum. Hannah Foster has a team-high .390 average with 16 hits. She also has six runs, five extra base hits, three walks, and two RBI. In the circle, Megan Powell has thrown nearly half of Lees-McCrae's innings with 36.2. Across her seven appearances, she has a 2-3 record on a 3.82 ERA, 40 hits, 20 earned runs, 12 walks, and 42 strikeouts. The Bobcats are within the top-10 across DII in double plays (8th; 7) and double plays per game (10th; 0.58).
Wingate (16-5) are in the midst of a four-series homestand, ending with the SAC opener against the Pioneers. The Bulldogs are 9-1 at their familiar complex. Heaven Maness is hitting .354 in her 20 starts, collecting a team-high 23 hits (five for extra bases), 14 runs scored, 12 RBI, and five walks. Hannah Reeves has hit a team-best six homers, while Sara Stroud has drawn 12 walks and stolen a base on all 11 attempts. In the circle, four Bulldogs have shared the load, all ranging between 31.1 to 36.0 innings pitched. Raechel Cutcher and Danielle Kirchhofer are both 4-0 with sub 2.20 ERAs. Hali Scott has a batting average against rate of .143, while Sydney Kale has a team-high 40 strikeouts. Reeves has pitched the remaining 9.1 innings in relief with a pair of saves and only one earned scoring. Wingate ranks fourth in walks (72), seventh in fielding percentage (0.983), seventh in home runs (22), and 13th in shutouts (4).
Links to live stats and video, when available, for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
