FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. --- The Tusculum University softball team swept the Emmanuel Lions on Wednesday (Feb. 17) afternoon, never relenting the lead throughout the doubleheader. The Pioneers used timely hitting and solid pitching to earn 5-1 and 8-2 victories.
Tusculum (3-3) plans to host the annual Pioneer Classic as its next competition, beginning Saturday (Feb. 20) morning against Tiffin.
Game 1: Tusculum 5, Emmanuel 1
Tusculum used a pair of multi-run innings and the shutdown pitching of Emily Sappington to open the day in Georgia.
All was quiet until the Pioneers broke through in the third inning. Alexis Grampp was stationed on first after a walk. Kiley Longmire stepped into the batter's box with two outs and launched a double to left field, scoring Grampp. With Longmire advancing to third on the throw, Claire Smeltzer was able to reach on an error by the Emmanuel shortstop, buying Longmire enough time to cross home plate.
The Lions got one run back in the bottom half of the inning via a RBI double.
Tusculum struck quickly in the fourth. Chloe Freischmidt drew a walk and was driven in by a Claire Crout triple. Two batters later, Mya Maddox caused chaos on the base path. A slap-hit led to a fielder's choice in which a throwing error ensued. Maddox wound up on third, while Crout scored the fourth run of the contest. Grampp singled to center field, plating Maddox as the final tally of game one.
Sappington went the distance, allowing six hits and three walks. The lefty struck out five batters to garner her first collegiate win.
Game 2: Tusculum 8, Emmanuel 2
Tusculum scored early and often in the error-heavy nightcap. The lone extra base hit for the Pioneers was throttled off of Grampp's bat and over the center field wall.
Longmire led off the second inning by reaching on an error by the Emmanuel shortstop. A Smeltzer single moved her up 60 feet. Sappington singled to score Longmire unearned. Freischmidt was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Hannah Hughes. The junior also reached on a miscue by the Lions' shortstop, allowing Smeltzer to race home. Maddox grounded out to third and Sappington scored.
Tusculum's lead was stretched to four after the top of the third inning. Anna Alloway singled, followed by an error by the infield that allowed Longmire to reach first. Alloway advanced to third on the play and Sappington groundout moved Longmire to second. A passed ball gave Alloway enough time to score.
Emmanuel found its way into the scoring column with a RBI double in the third and a run-scoring single in the fourth.
To start the fifth, Grampp walked, Longmire was plunked by an errant pitch, and Smeltzer grounded out to put the runners in scoring position. Sappington reached on an error by Emmanuel, which allowed enough time for the pair to clear the base path.
The sixth inning featured Grampp's home run, driving in Madison Michael. Michael entered the game in a pinch hitting role and was promptly thumped by a pitch.
Savannah Foster got the start and worked three innings. She relented an earned run, a walk, two hits, and struck out one. Keylon Reynolds picked up her first collegiate win via four frames in relief. The freshman gave up one unearned run, one hit, and a pair of free-passes, but is credited with four strikeouts.
