DUE WEST, S.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team got back in the win column with a doubleheader sweep at Erskine on Saturday (Feb. 22).
Tusculum (15-1) returns home for the first time in nearly two weeks to host nearby King on Wednesday (Feb. 26). First pitch from Red Edmonds Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 9, Erskine 6
Seven Pioneers drove in at least one run to edge out the Flying Fleet. A combined 11 runs were scored in the fifth inning by the regional foes.
TU scored twice in the opening frame to take the early lead, which the Pioneers never relented. Brooke Smith doubled to left and stole third. Ellie Alvarez drew a walk to bring up Gabi Nicholson. She grounded out but Smith was able to score. Sammy Jimenez singled to right to bring home Alvarez with two outs.
Erskine got on the board with a two out solo home run in the bottom of the third.
Chaos ensued in the fifth as Tusculum rallied for six runs. Smith and Alvarez drew back-to-back walks with the former scoring on a Nicholson single. Katie Jones pinch ran for Nicholson as a Jimenez single loaded the bases with no outs. After a pitching change, Alyssa Barbrick knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly. Jones scored on a wild pitch as Ella Majchrzak walked. Caylen Conrad entered as a pinch runner for Majchrzak. Madison Watts singled to score Jimenez and Conrad came home on an Abby Hunter groundout. Danielle Jason drove in Watts with a single.
The Flying Fleet went off for five unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning. Erskine used five singles, one ill-timed error, and a walk to cause the damage.
Tusculum tacked on one run in the sixth for insurance. Nicholson launched a lead-off double as Jimenez reached on an error. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Majchrzak knocked in Nicholson on a sacrifice fly.
Nyah Vogel (2-0) picked up the win after going four innings in the start. She allowed one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Natalie Spaitis pitched one inning, giving up five hits, five unearned runs and one walk. Megan Ackerman earned her first collegiate save, tossing two innings of one-hit, two-strikeout ball.
Game 2: Tusculum 11, Erskine 6
The Pioneers rallied from a 6-3 deficit to plate eight unanswered runs behind a shutdown outing from Dani Beckham. Kylie Darrow also launched the first home run of her career.
Once again, TU plated a run in the opening inning. Smith led off the contest with a double to left, advancing on a line out. She scored on Nicholson's single to center.
Erskine brought two runners home in the second to take the lead. A single, sacrifice bunt, and pair of two out singles put the Flying Fleet ahead.
Tusculum retook the advantage in the third. Smith raced out an infield single and, with two outs, Jimenez homered.
The Fleet responded with a pair of two-run homers in the bottom half of the frame.
Darrow launched her first collegiate homer to lessen the Erskine lead with two outs in the fourth.
The Pioneers added four runs in the next inning to retake the lead for good. Alvarez doubled to lead off, moving up to third on a groundout. Jimenez singled to score Alvarez. With two outs, Barbrick reached on an error, advancing to second as Jimenez scored. Emma Golden pinch ran for Barbrick ahead of Majchrzak's walk. Conrad entered to run for the latter as Darrow walked to load the bases. Golden scored on a wild pitch. Hunter walked to reload the bags. Following a pitching change, Smith hustled for an infield single as Conrad came home.
In the sixth, Barbrick drilled her fourth home run this month, a three-run shot. Nicholson's single led off the frame with Riley Hope coming in to run. Hailey Nichols drew a pinch-hit walk ahead of Barbrick's blast.
The Fleet left four on base over the final four innings.
Ackerman pitched the first 2.2 frames, allowing seven hits, six runs (three earned), one walk, and one strikeout. Beckham (2-0) tossed the final 4.1 innings, giving up only four hits.
