JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The fifth-seeded Tusculum University softball team was eliminated by four-seed Carson-Newman on Saturday (Apr. 26) in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament opening round.
Tusculum (37-17) awaits the selection show for the NCAA Tournament, scheduled for May 5. The Pioneers were listed sixth in the latest region poll.
A five-run sixth inning powered Carson-Newman to round out the sweep of Tusculum.
The game was a pitcher’s duel until Tusculum broke through in the fifth. Caylen Conrad drew a lead off walk but was out on Danielle Jason‘s fielder’s choice. She advanced to second on a Brooke Smith groundout, scoring on an Ellie Alvarez single down the left field line.
The Eagles surged in the sixth. A RBI single was followed by a walk and a grand slam by Macauley Bailey.
TU shrunk the lead to 5-3 in the bottom half of the inning. Sammy Jimenez doubled to center and advanced on a wild pitch. She scored on an Abby Hunter single back up the middle. Gabi Nicholson and Ella Majchrzak followed up with singles as the Pioneers started the frame with four-straight hits. With two outs, Jason beat out a throw to first, scoring Hunter.
C-N added on a run in the seventh with back-to-back two-out hits.
Megan Ackerman bookended the contest, throwing a total of 4.2 frames, allowing two runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Natalie Spaitis (7-4) was tagged with the loss, surrendering four runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
