JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team won a pair of games via run-rule on day one of the Big Region Preseason Invitational, hosted at Winged Deer Park. The Pioneers are off to their best start since 1997 and third 6-0 opening dating back to 1991.
Tusculum (6-0) continues its stint at the weekend event, facing Converse and King at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.
Game 1: Tusculum 18, Lees-McRae 4 (5 innings)
Taking on Lees-McRae for a third-straight contest, TU made its way into the record in its domination of the Bobcats. The Pioneers tallied seven stolen bases (third-most), 19 hits, and 16 runs batted in, both seventh-most.
Tusculum scored a run in the first without recording a hit. Danielle Jason drew a walk. She stole second, advancing to third on a LMC error. Ellie Alvarez stepped up with one out, reaching on another miscue, which allowed Jason to scamper home for the game's first run.
The Pioneers broke the game open with a nine-run second frame. Ella Majchrzak singled, followed by Megan Ackerman reaching on an error. Alyssa Barbrick walked and Ackerman advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out. Abby Hunter tripled to clear the bases. Jason walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. The duo scored on a Brooke Smith single, which she attempted to stretch into a double. Alvarez doubled as Gabi Nicholson worked a walk with two outs. After a Lees-McRae pitching change, Alvarez stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Sammy Jimenez doubled Nicholson to third and Majchrzak walked to load the bases. An Ackerman singled plated a pair, while Barbrick doubled home Majchrzak. Hunter rounded out the scoring by driving in Ackerman.
TU was held scoreless in the third but rallied for three runs in the fourth. Barbrick singled and advanced to third base after a pair of errant pitches. Emma Golden drew a pinch-hit walk and stole second. Jason singled to the pitcher, allowing Barbrick to score. Jason stole second and after Alvarez was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded. Nicholson singled back up the middle to plate two teammates.
Down 13-0, the Bobcats made a dent with four runs in the fourth on five hits.
The Pioneers added five insurance runs in the fifth to keep the run-rule in effect. With two outs, Barbrick doubled and Hailey Nichols entered to pinch-run. She scored on Hunter's single back up the middle. After a pitching change, Tusculum notched four-straight hits, including a Smith triple, for four scores.
Megan Ackerman (2-0) pitched four innings, allowing four runs on six hits with one strikeout. Nyah Vogel came in for the final inning facing the minimum.
Game 2: Tusculum 12, Barton 4 (6 innings)
The Pioneers kept up the hot bats despite an hour delay due to wind-related field issues just two batters into the game. Majchrzak drove in four runs, including her first collegiate home run.
Barton put Tusculum down early after a lead-off double, wild pitch, and a double. After the delay, three of the next four batters resulted in outs.
TU responded to swing the momentum back in its favor. Jason bunted for a single, reaching third on an error. Smith also bunted for a single to put runners at the corners. Smith stole second, going to third on the overthrow, allowing Jason to score. Alvarez was hit by a pitch, repeating the prior play as Smith scored on Alvarez's steal attempt. Nicholson singled up the middle and stole second for a pair of runners in scoring position. Majchrzak grounded out but Alvarez scored.
Barton tied the game at 3-all in the third. The Bulldogs had a player reach on an error and capitalized on it with a two-out home run.
Tusculum regained its lead for the final time in the bottom of the third. Smith led off with a walk as BC changed pitchers. She stole second and moved up to third on a groundout. Nicholson launched a sacrifice fly to plate Smith.
The Pioneers scored six in the fifth to go up 10-3. Hunter cued up a double and Jason raced out an infield single. Jason stole second, with both scoring on an Alvarez double. With two outs, Jimenez drew a pinch-hit walk. Majchrzak launched her first career home run, a three-run shot, to clear the bases. After another pitching change, Barbrick knocked her first homer as a Pioneer over the left field netting.
With back-to-back hits to start the sixth, Barton got one run back.
Tusculum added two runs in the bottom of the frame to enforce their second run-rule of the day. Jason doubled with one out as Smith singled and stole second. Nicholson drew a two-out walk with Nichols coming in to run. Jimenez knocked a ground-rule double to walk-off the Bulldogs.
Natalie Spaitis (3-0) battled back for her third win of the young season. She relented four runs (two earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Dani Beckham threw the final frame, allowing one hit and striking out one.
