AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Tusculum University softball team edged out Augusta in a thrilling doubleheader on Monday (Feb. 17) in the Pioneers’ first true road series.
Tusculum (12-0) continues the road-heavy week with a trip to Southern Wesleyan on Friday (Feb. 21). First pitch between the Pioneers and Warriors is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 4, Augusta 2
Megan Ackerman picked up her fourth win of the season as she helped herself at the plate with a two-run homer. Both Gabi Nicholson and Ackerman recorded a pair of hits in the victory.
Nicholson led off the second inning with a double down the left field line. Ackerman stepped in with one out and belted her second home run of her career.
Tusculum added another run in the third. With two outs, Ellie Alvarez singled and stole second. Sammy Jimenez drew a walk to bring up Nicholson. She notched a hit to left field to score Alvarez.
The Pioneers went up 4-0 in the fifth. Brooke Smith reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, making her way to third on the play. Jimenez dropped down a bunt single that plated Smith.
Augusta started its comeback attempt in the fifth with a lead-off homer.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Jags began with a double, followed by a sacrifice to get the runner to third. She scored on a sacrifice bunt to make the game 4-2.
Augusta loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh to threaten a walk-off. Two batters reached via walks with the final reaching on an error. With one out, the Pioneers buckled down, getting the next batter to pop up and ending the game on a fielder’s choice.
Ackerman (4-0) pitched four innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Natalie Spaitis (Sv., 1) picked up the save after three innings of work. She allowed one run, one hit, two walks, and struck out three.
Game 2: Tusculum 13, Augusta 9
The Jags fought back from a six-run deficit to put a scare in the Pioneers in game two. Down 8-7, TU mounted a 6-1 rally.
Tusculum got game two started in a hurry. Danielle Jason led-off with a bunt single as Smith reached on an error. Alvarez walked to load the bases with no outs. Nicholson capitalized with a grand slam.
Augusta launched a two-out homer to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning.
The Pioneers went up 7-1 with a three-run second. Abby Hunter bunted for a single and stole second. She advanced to third on Jason’s infield single. Smith legged out her third triple of the season and scored on an Alvarez groundout.
Chaos reigned in the third as Augusta scored six runs on just three hits to tie the contest at 7-all. The Jags loaded the bases with one out via a pair of singles and a hit batter. They drew three-straight walks to force TU’s second pitching change of the inning. With the bases still full, the Jags doubled and and scored on a fielder’s choice before a pair of strikeouts ended the frame.
Bailee Roberts tagged her second solo home run of the game for Augusta in the bottom of the fourth to put the Jags ahead.
Tusculum responded in the fifth to retake the lead. Alvarez singled and stole second as Jimenez reached on an error. The duo scored on Nicholson’s fifth and six RBI of the contest via a double to left center. Emma Golden entered to pinch-run, going to third on Alyssa Barbrick‘s single. Riley Hope stole second as the pinch-runner for Barbrick. Hailey Nichols grounded out to score Golden.
The Jags got a run back in the bottom half of the inning with their third homer of the game.
Nichols provided the insurance runs for Tusculum in the top of the seventh. Jimenez singled to lead-off, followed by a pair of fielder’s choice plays, putting Nicholson and Barbrick on base. Nichols keyed up her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot, to give TU breathing room.
Augusta brought four to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, looking to extend the game. However, Tusculum left Georgia with a 12-0 record.
Nyah Vogel started the contest, going 2.1 frames, allowing four runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. Dani Beckham walked all three batters that she faced in her appearance. Ackerman (5-0) earned her second win of the day in a 2.2 inning outing. She relented two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. Spaitis (Sv., 2) closed out the game with a walk and a strikeout, not allowing a hit. She is now in sole posession of second place in program history with her sixth career save.
