GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The Tusculum University softball team broke three program records in the two-game sweep of Limestone on Friday (Mar. 29).
Emily Sappington now owns the shutout record, tossing the 16th of her TU career. The nightcap saw the single-season home run record fall as Ellie Alvarez hit the Pioneers’ 41st homer of the year. Natalie Spaitis overtook the top spot for saves in a season with her fourth. Additionally, with a pair of home runs on the day, Sammy Jimenez tied the individual season mark with 11.
Tusculum (18-17, 8-6 SAC) travels to UVA Wise for a SAC doubleheader on Wednesday, April 3. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Game 1: Tusculum 4, Limestone 0
Sappington shut out the Saints as the Pioneers took advantage of Limestone’s miscues.
Danielle Jason led off the bottom of the first with a walk, followed by a Brooke Smith single. Claire Smeltzer walked to load the bases with no outs. Alvarez launched a sacrifice fly to center to score Jason. The centerfielder overthrew the third baseman, attempting to cut down Smith, which allowed a second run to score on the play.
Tusculum scored again in the third. Smeltzer doubled to lead off the frame and was able to advance to third on a muffed catch on the fielder’s choice. She was able to score on a passed ball.
Jimenez homered with two outs in the fifth for the game’s final run.
Limestone threatened in the sixth with a one-out triple, but Sappington struck the next two batters out.
Sappington (6-5) tossed her 58th complete game, allowing two hits with four walks, while striking out nine.
Game 2: Tusculum 9, Limestone 3
The Pioneers scored nine unanswered runs as the teams combined for eight errors in the field.
Limestone struck for two runs in the opening inning, using one hit and two TU errors. The Saints scored on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly in the same at bat.
Limestone used a second sacrifice fly to plate their third run in the top of the third.
Tusculum opened the floodgates in the fourth for a six-spot, using five hits and two errors, scoring them all with two outs. Maddie McBride singled to start the inning, advancing to third on consecutive sacrifice bunts by Alyssa Barbrick and Abby Hunter. Jason singled through the left side and McBride was able to score. After Smith singled up the middle, Jason went to work on the basepath. On a steal attempt, the catcher overthrew the infielder, so Jason kept going to third. The outfielder overran the ball, allowing Jason to score. Smeltzer worked a walk. Following a pitching change, Gabi Nicholson reached on a fielder’s choice as Smith scored on a throwing error. Jimenez cleared the bases with her 17th career longball, putting TU up 6-3.
Nicholson led off the sixth a solo shot. Two batters later, Alvarez’s home run broke the Pioneer single-season record. With two outs, Barbrick doubled and advanced to third on a passed ball. Makayla Bush then drew a walk as a pinch hitter, as Hunter returned to run. Barbrick scored on a wild pitch for the ninth run of the contest.
Limestone worked a walk with one out in the seventh, but a double play ended the game. The Saints lined a pitch right back at Spaitis as she quickly reacted to snag the ball and smartly caught the runner off the bag.
Ireland Cavanaugh (7-8) pitched four innings of two-hit, three run (one earned) ball, walking one batter and striking out four. Spaitis (Sv., 4) tossed three nearly perfect frames, allowing just one hit and a walk.
