NEWBERRY, S.C. — The Tusculum University softball wrapped up its 2026 campaign with a doubleheader sweep at Newberry on Saturday (Apr. 25).
Tusculum finishes out the 2026 season with a 22-28, 8-14 SAC record.
Game 1: Tusculum 4, Newberry 3 (8 innings)
The Pioneers scored four unanswered runs to squeak out an extra-inning victory over the Wolves.
Newberry got on the board first in the opening frame behind consecutive extra base hits and a sacrifice fly.
The Wolves tacked on a single run with two outs in the third.
Ellie Alvarez drew a seven-pitch walk to lead off the fourth. Ella Majchrzak capitalized with her second home run of the season to dead center.
Tusculum tied the game in the fifth. Katie Jones legged out an infield single and stole second. She advanced to third on a Muriel Dillow sacrifice bunt. Abby Hunter knocked the first pitch to centerfield to drive in Jones on a sacrifice fly.
Jones was placed on second base for the international tiebreak runner. Dillow laid down her second sacrifice bunt of the day to move Jones up to third. Hunter singled to left center to put the Pioneers ahead.
Chelsey Stonesifer sat the Wolves down in order in the bottom of the eighth to officially eliminate Newberry from postseason contention.
Stonesifer (18-8) went the distance for the ninth-most wins in a TU season in recorded history. She allowed three runs on seven hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.
Game 2: Tusculum 3, Newberry 2
The Pioneers held on to close out the season with a conference sweep.
Dani Beckham began her last collegiate game with an immaculate inning, tossing nine pitches for nine strikes and three swinging strikeouts.
Tusculum scored the first three runs of the nightcap.
In the second inning, Andrea Davis singled to right, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. She scored on an Ava Hallows single.
Two frames later, Taylor Hancock was a victim of a two-out hit by pitch. She scored on a Hallows double down the right field line.
The Pioneers’ final run came in the fifth. Dillow singled through the right side, stole second, and reached third on a Hunter infield single. Dillow came home on an Alvarez single back up the middle.
Newberry fought back for two runs in the sixth. The Wolves used three hits, a fielder’s choice, and an error to plate a run, followed by a sacrifice fly.
Beckham (2-7) finished her collegiate career strong, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and a personal-best six strikeouts. Stonesifer (Sv., 3) got the final five outs to earn her third save of the season, including a strikeout.
