JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team suffered its first two losses in South Atlantic Conference action on Tuesday (Mar. 18) at the hands of archrival Carson-Newman.
Tusculum (29-3, 8-2 SAC) will look to respond against Wingate on Saturday (Mar. 22). The doubleheader between the Pioneers and Bulldogs is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game 1: Carson-Newman 8, #17 Tusculum 0 (5 innings)
The Eagles tagged three home runs, including a pair in the bottom of the fifth to run-rule the Pioneers. This marks TU's first shutout of the season.
C-N used back-to-back sacrifice flies in the first to put Tusculum down 2-0 early.
A two-run homer in the third doubled the deficit.
Carson-Newman used a four-run fifth to close out the contest. The Eagles belted a three-run shot with one out. After a pick off following a walk, the clinching run was knocked over the left center wall.
Gabi Nicholson recorded the lone hit for Tusculum in the fourth inning. Four Pioneers worked a walk: Brooke Smith, Sammy Jimenez, Megan Ackerman, and Alyssa Barbrick.
Megan Ackerman (13-2) threw 4.2 innings in the loss, allowing eight runs on nine hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Game 2: Carson-Newman 9, #17 Tusculum 5
The Pioneers made a mid-game push but the Eagles overpowered with another three home runs.
Carson-Newman got out to an 8-0 lead after three innings, highlighted by its trio of long-balls.
Tusculum got on the board in the fourth. Jimenez led off with a double, followed by a Riley Hope pinch-hit double. Ella Majchrzak legged out an infield single to move Hope to third. She scored on a Hailey Nichols pinch-hit fielder's choice.
The Pioneers added three more in the fifth. Danielle Jason bunted for a single to lead off. Smith reached on a muffed catch on a sacrifice bunt, sending Jason all the way to third. Ellie Alvarez capitalized with a three-run homer to left center.
C-N tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with two outs.
TU threw three pitchers in the second game. Nyah Vogel (4-1) got the start, tossing 1.1 frames. She allowed three runs on two hits (both homers), walked one, and struck out two. Dani Beckham got two outs, surrendering four runs on two hits with a pair of walks. Natalie Spaitis pitched the final four frames, relenting two runs on six hits, two walks, and struck out four.
