TIGERVILLE, S.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team dropped its two-game tilt at North Greenville by identical 4-3 scores on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 14).

Tusculum (5-6) is scheduled to play its next five series at Red Edmonds Field. The home stand starts on Saturday, February 18 against Davis & Elkins. First pitch for the doubleheader has been set for 1 p.m.

Game 1: North Greenville 4, Tusculum 3
A controversial walk-off hit by pitch for NGU in the bottom of the seventh ended the contest in gut-wrenching fashion. Kallyn Newport went 3-for-4 in the game and scored a run.

The Crusaders got on the board early in game one after a single, steal, and two-out RBI double.

Tusculum responded in the top of the second to tie the ball game. Sammy Jimenez drew a walk and advanced to third on two wild pitches. Hannah Hughes singled to left to drive in the designated player.

The Pioneer lead was extended to 3-1 in the third. Newport led off the frame with a single to center. Claire Smeltzer yanked her second home run of the season (and career) down the right field line to continue her impressive start.

North Greenville took one back in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff double was bunted over and scored on a groundout.

Newport bunted for a single in the and stole second with two outs, but went no further.

The Crusaders had the bases loaded with no outs after three-straight singles. Tusculum's defense held on to allow only one run to score, tying the ball game. Emily Sappington struck out the final two batters to prevent more damage being done.

Tusculum nearly tallied another score in the top of the seventh to pull ahead. Newport legged out an infield single, but was thrown out on a fielder's choice. Claire Smeltzer reached on the play with Italia Kyle subbed in to pinch run. Chloe Freischmidt singled to center, allowing Kyle to race all the way to third. The go-ahead run stayed 60 feet away.

Back-to-back one-out singles led into a wild pitch to put two Crusaders into scoring position. The next batter was intentionally walked to put the defense into a double play position. However, a strongly disputed hit by pitch was ruled to win the game for NGU.

Emily Sappington (4-3) pitched 6.1 innings on an even 100 pitches, relenting four runs (all earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts. She also walked one and hit one Crusader.

Game 2: North Greenville 4, Tusculum 3
Katelynn Hodges went 2-for-2 with a run and a walk, while Smeltzer added two hits and a RBI.

The game was scoreless until the fourth when the Crusader notched a sacrifice fly in back-to-back innings, holding a 2-0 edge going into the sixth.

Freischmidt launched a one-out double and Sappington came on to pinch hit with two outs. She singled to center and the former hustled home for TU's first run of the nightcap.

North Greenville got the decisive two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Week Virginia Bishop drilled a solo home run, followed quickly by an unearned RBI single.

Maddie McBride made her offensive impact after she belted her first career homer to left center on a 2-0 count, leading off the seventh frame. Hodges outran an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stepping in with two outs, Smeltzer singled to left to plate her teammate. The third and final out was made on the next pitch.

Ireland Cavanaugh (1-2) went all six innings, allowing four runs (three earned), eight hits, and one walk with no strikeouts.