GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team scored a season-high 12 runs in both games of Tuesday's (Feb. 21) doubleheader versus Bluefield State, adding a best of 15 hits in the finale.
Tusculum (9-8) wraps up its home stand with two weekend series (Feb. 25-26), starting with a Saturday afternoon showdown against Southern Wesleyan. The Pioneers and Warriors are set to begin their doubleheader at 12 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 12, Bluefield State 4 (5 inns.)
A six-run fourth inning boosted the Pioneers into run-rule territory, finalized by a game-ending hit from Claire Smeltzer. Chloe Freischmidt went 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in four.
Tusculum took an early lead after Freischmidt singled down the third base line with two outs. The team-leader in triples, Sammy Jimenez, added to her total, scoring the catcher. Madison Watts notched the third-straight hit, resulting in a second run.
The Big Blue led off the second with consecutive hits, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. A deep single to right center tied the ball game.
The Pioneers took the lead for good in the third inning. Kallyn Newport singled down the third base line, stealing second with Smeltzer at the plate. After Smeltzer's walk, TU executed a double steal. Freischmidt doubled off of the shortstop, advancing to third on a throwing error. Hannah Hughes added a two-out double to bring in Freischmidt.
Tusculum scored six runs on three hits and two errors in the fourth to balloon the lead to 11-2. The first six batters reached successfully. Hayley Lazo drew a leadoff walk with Italia Kyle entering to pinch run. Katelynn Hodges outran a bunt and both she and Kyle advanced on a wild pitch. Newport walked and all three runners moved up a respective base on the ball-four wild pitch. Smeltzer reached on a fielding error, allowing both Newport and Hodge to score. Smeltzer stole second and ended up on third after a throwing miscue. Freischmidt nearly hit the scoreboard in left center with a towering two-run homer. Jimenez walked and advanced twice on outs. Maddie McBride shot a single back up the middle to plate the third baseman.
TU was three outs from a run-rule, but Bluefield State scored twice with two outs to force the Pioneers to bat in the bottom of the fifth. The Big Blue had the bases loaded to single and walk in their runs.
Tusculum needed just three batters to walk-off game one. Hodges raced out a bunt single to the pitcher and stole second with one out. Smeltzer singled through the right side to score Hodges and end the opener.
Ireland Cavanaugh (3-3) pitched a five-inning complete game on 76 pitches. She allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Game 2: Tusculum 12, Bluefield State 2 (5 inns.)
Two big offensive innings earned the Pioneers their second quick contest of the day. Freischmidt and Jimenez tallied their second homer and triple in as many games, respectively. Hodges also hit her second home run of the year (fourth overall).
Bluefield State quickly got on the board after a pair of miscues by Tusculum on the same play. The leadoff batter bunted for a single, stole second, reached third on a fielding error, and scored on a throwing error. However, three of the next four batters were retired.
The Pioneers recovered immediately. Newport singled up the middle and stole second. Smeltzer drew a walk and Newport went to third on the wild pitch. Freischmidt was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Once again, Jimenez hustled out a bases-clearing triple. Hughes laid down a squeeze bunt and Jimenez was able to score on the play. Hughes stole second and moved up to third on a groundout. Birthday girl Lazo hit an infield single to elevate the lead to 5-1.
The Big Blue scored their second run on another funky play, which ended up as an earned run.
Tusculum put the run-rule into play with a six-run third inning. Hughes singled to center, advancing to second on an errant throw in. She moved up to third after a flyout and was driven in on a Lazo single up the middle. Kyle came in to run for Lazo. Hodges launched a ball to dead center field, nearly hitting the 225' sign, which bounced straight up off of the fence, landing beside the flagpole for a home run. Newport singled back up the middle, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Smeltzer drove in Newport, followed by Freischmidt's second homer of the day, taking the identical flight of the first moonshot.
After back-to-back walks in the top of the fourth, the Tusculum defense came up big with a double play.
TU added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning. Riley Hope notched a pinch hit single to left center, followed by a pinch-hitting Zoe Wills. She doubled down the third base line to put two in scoring position with one out, her first career base knock. Hope capitalized on Newport's groundout to get the lead to double-digits.
Looking to avoid being run-ruled for a second time, Bluefield State led off with a bunt single. A fielder's choice took out the lead runner. The TU infield recorded second double play in as many innings to close out the threat and seal the sweep.
Keylon Reynolds (1-1) picked up her first win of the year behind a five-inning complete game. In 78 pitches, she surrendered two runs (one earned) on five hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
