GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team split a two-game series on Valentine's Day at Red Edmonds Field against the visiting North Greenville Crusaders.
Brooke Smith went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader with four runs scored, four driven in, one walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a stolen base. Meanwhile, Claire Smeltzer extended her hitting streak to a ninth game.
Tusculum (4-5) heads to the Cougar-Hurricane Classic this weekend (Feb. 16-17) for a four-game set. The Pioneers will face West Florida and Columbus State in Columbus on Friday, while contests against Point and Georgia Southwestern will be played on Saturday in Americus.
Game 1: North Greenville 7, Tusculum 5
The Pioneers rallied late but an early 6-0 deficit to the Crusaders was enough for the game one loss.
NGU's first run came in the third via a wild pitch.
Five more runs were added in the fourth, including four with two outs, on five hits.
Ellie Alvarez broke up the no-hit bid by the Crusaders in the fifth with a double down the third base line. Makayla Bush, who pinch ran for Alyssa Barbrick after her walk, advanced to third on the play. Smith singled through the right side to plate both of her teammates.
North Greenville tacked on a RBI double in the seventh to extend its lead to 7-2.
However, Tusculum closed out strong. Alvarez singled through the left side and was driven in by a Smith triple to right center. With two outs, Sammy Jimenez singled to center to score Smith, followed by Claire Smeltzer's stand up triple.
Ireland Cavanaugh (1-3) earned the game one start, going 3.1 frames while allowing four runs (three earned). She relented four hits but struck out a pair. Natalie Spaitis tossed three innings with three runs scoring on six hits. Keylon Reynolds picked up the final two outs, walking one batter.
Game 2: Tusculum 10, North Greenville 4
Maddie McBride and Jimenez each drove in multiple runs, while Smith (3), Jimenez (2), Smeltzer (2), Alvarez (2), and Danielle Jason (1) did the scoring. Defensively, Emily Sappington shut down late-inning efforts from the circle to seal the win.
The offense picked up where it left off from game one. Smith led off with a bunt single, followed by Smeltzer's single through the left side. Gabi Nicholson drove a single down the right field line to plate Smith. McBride knocked a sacrifice fly into center to score the second run of the frame.
NGU scored four times in the third to take over the lead on four hits and an error.
Tusculum responded with five, two out runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. The Pioneers also drew four walks in the frame. Alvarez drew a leadoff walk, while Nyah Vogel laid down a sacrifice bunt in her first at-bat of the season to move Alvarez up 60 feet. She moved up even further on a Bush groundout. Jason also walked and stole second. Smith bunted for a single and stole second in a defensive lapse by the Crusaders, caused by Alvarez scoring. Jimenez picked up the third walk. An errant throw back to the pitcher on ball four allowed an alert Jason to speed home, tying the game at 4-all. Smeltzer singled, while Smith scored. Nicholson walked to load the bases for McBride. She doubled to right center, scoring Smeltzer and Jimenez, while Nicholson was thrown out at the plate.
Alvarez led off the fifth with her first collegiate home run to double up the Crusaders.
Smith drew a walk to start off the sixth, plated on a Jimenez homer.
Nyah Vogel (1-0) earned her first win as a Pioneer, going four innings. She relented four runs on eight hits with one walk, but struck out a trio of Crusaders. Sappington (Sv., 1) was nearly perfect to collect her program-record seventh career save. The left-hander did not allow a hit and struck out one batter through three frames.