YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — The Tusculum University softball team scored 23 runs over Young Harris on Thursday (Feb. 27) in a pair of road victories.
Tusculum (19-1) returns home for three-straight series, beginning with UNC Pembroke on Saturday (Mar. 1). First pitch from Red Edmonds Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 14, Young Harris 5 (6 innings)
The Pioneers used a six-run sixth inning to run-rule the Mountain Lions in game one of the doubleheader. YHC had seven errors in the loss, resulting in 10 unearned runs for TU.
Danielle Jason reached on a fielding error to kick off the day. She stole second before Brooke Smith bunted for a hit, advancing to second on a throwing error, which allowed Jason to score. Ellie Alvarez doubled in Smith. Alvarez moved up on a fly out before coming in to score on a Gabi Nicholson groundout.
Young Harris got on the board in the bottom half of the inning. A one-out double advanced to third on a groundout. A single plated the runner.
With two outs in the third, Megan Ackerman doubled down the left field line. Alyssa Barbrick followed with her team-leading fifth home run of the season.
The Mountain Lions responded with a three-run shot in their next round of at bats.
Tusculum struck again in the fourth frame to lead 8-4. Jason singled and stole second with one out. She scored on Smith’s hit, in which she wound up at third. After a pitching change, Smith scored on a fielder’s choice put in play by Alvarez. She stole second and scored as Nicholson reached on an error.
YHC lessened the deficit by one run in the fourth. With the bases loaded and only one out, a single plated run but Natalie Spaitis mitigated the damage with back-to-back popups.
The Pioneers tacked on six runs in the sixth to enforce the run-rule. Jason drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Alvarez and Sammy Jimenez both reached on consecutive throwing errors with two runs scoring. Nicholson singled to advance Jimenez to third. After a pitching change, two more runs scored as Barbrick reached on an error. She moved up on a wild pitch and Caylen Conrad was hit by a pitch. Conrad stole second and both runners scored on Abby Hunter‘s single to right.
Tusculum used three pitchers in the opener with each going two innings: Megan Ackerman, Natalie Spaitis, and Dani Beckham. Ackerman tossed the first two frames, allowing four runs on five hits. Spaitis (6-0) earned the win, surrendering one unearned run, two walks, three hits, and one strikeout. Beckham (Sv., 1) picked up the first save of her career, allowing just one hit across her stint.
Game 2: Tusculum 9, Young Harris 7
A combined 14 runs were scored in the first 1.5 innings of game two, including Addison Hoffner‘s first collegiate hit, a two-run homer.
Tusculum plated four runs in the first half inning on three hits and the lone error of game two. Jason singled and stole second, advancing on Smith’s groundout. Alvarez hit her team-best fourth triple of the season to score Jason. She scored as Jimenez reached on an error. Nicholson reached on a fielder’s choice and Jimenez moved up to second for two runners on. Hoffner drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Kylie Darrow capitalized with a single to center to score a pair.
Young Harris responded with five runs in its half of the first. The Mountain Lions used six hits, including five singles, a hit by pitch, and a fielder’s choice to bat around in the frame.
The Pioneers regained the lead with five runs in the second. Jason walked and stole second, scoring on Alvarez’s single with one out. She stole second ahead of a pitching change. Jimenez stepped in and belted the 23rd home run of her career, tying her for third all-time at Tusculum. Nicholson singled up the middle and Katie Jones entered to pinch run. With two outs, Hoffner registered her first hit, a two-run bomb.
In the bottom of the third, down 9-5, YHC tallied back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. With two outs, a double plated one runner but the second was gunned down at the plate: Hunter to Smith to Hoffner.
Young Harris had a run-scoring double in the fourth to bring the score to 9-7.
TU used a double play in the sixth to wipe out a threat by the Mountain Lions.
YHC had its first two batters reach in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the winning run at the plate, Ackerman buckled down to earn the save as the ball never left the infield, retiring the next three batters.
Nyah Vogel had a rocky start, allowing five runs on four hits. Beckham (3-0) pitched the next 3.1 frames, surrendering just two runs on eight hits. Ackerman (Sv., 2) got the save, tossing 3.2 innings with three hits and two strikeouts.
