Gallagher’s walkoff single propels Softball to DH sweep over Tusculum

Salisbury, N.C. —- The Catawba College softball team used a pair of late-game rallies to sweep Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference action, culminating in Bri Gallagher's walkoff 2-RBI single in game number two. The Catawba Indians improve to 16-10 overall and 4-4 in the SAC, while the Pioneers drop to 13-16 on the season and 2-8 in league play.

Alex Baquie picked up the wins in both contests, improving to a record of 12-3 on the year. The freshman righthander has won 11 of her last 12 decisions in the circle. In game one, Baquie pitched a complete game, allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out seven.

Kary Hales was the key offensive player for Catawba in game one, going 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored. Riley Tucker also had a multi-hit game, while Gallagher and Molly Strider hit for homers.

Neither team scored for the first three innings, but Tusculum got on the board first when Emily Sappington homered to right center. Strider answered with a home run herself in the bottom half of the third.

Back-to-back RBI singles gave Tusculum a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, but Catawba put up five runs in the fifth, as Tucker singled through the right side to score Savannah Balderston, Hales' triple scored Christina Brendle and Tucker and Gallagher homered to give Catawba a 6-3 lead. Tusculum got a run back in the top of the seventh, but Baquie retired the tying run at the plate to earn the game one win.

The teams got out of the gate scoring in game two, as the Pioneers put up two in the top of the first, but Catawba responded with three on Tucker's three-run homer to right center to take the lead after one inning.

Sammy Jimenez scored a run on a bunt single to tie the game in the top of the second, but Courtnee Carter retook the lead on an RBI single. Tusculum struck for a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-4 lead. With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Gallagher smoked a single to shortstop, scoring two and taking game two and the doubleheader sweep.

Catawba returns to Whitley Field on Saturday, continuing SAC play with a doubleheader against Lincoln Memorial starting at 1 p.m.