Wednesday, March 14, 2007

 

TUSCULUM SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH KING

 

                GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College softball team pounded out 11 hits in the second game as the Pioneers split a non-conference doubleheader against in-state foe King College Wednesday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field.  The Pioneers improve to 17-7 overall, while King moves its record to 3-10.

 

                In the opener, Ashley White (3-4) tossed a two-run, four-hit complete game as King prevailed 4-2.   Jena Rickard, Amanda Crumpler and Megan Heaton each accounted for two-hit outings.

 

                Tusculum got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when Ashley Basilicato was hit by a pitch.  Racheal Wilburn came on to pinch-run for Basilicato and would later score on Lynssey Jett's fly ball to center field for a 1-0 lead.

 

                King answered with two runs in the third as Rickard singled, moved to third thanks to an error on Whitney Tweed's fielder's choice.  Rickard and Tweed would both cross the plate on Crumpler's second double of the year to move the Tornado in front 2-1.

 

                Tusculum tied the game in the fourth, as Jess Greer led off with a single and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches and scored on a fly ball off the bat of Judith Saavedra.

 

                King regained the lead with a run in the fifth inning when Crumpler singled and moved to third on Heaton's one-out double.  Crumpler would score when Emily Bennett flew out and crossed the plate before Heaton was thrown out at third to end the inning.  The Tornado added an insurance run in the seventh when Tweed scored on a wild pitch.

 

                White retired 12 of the last 13 batters, including eight in a row to end the game.  Tusculum starter Megan DuBois (6-4) suffered the loss as she pitched six innings, allowed seven hits, three runs, two earned, walked two and struck out three.

 

                Tusculum bounced back in the second game as Basilicato led the Tusculum hitting attack going 2-for-4 with two RBI, while rookie starter Jessica Bales (3-0) tossed a complete game as the Pioneers won 8-2.

 

                Tusculum plated two runs each in the first four innings, while the Tornado committed four errors.

 

                Tusculum's Holli Cadenhead went 2-for-3 with a pair of triples, her fourth and fifth of the season, including a two-out, two-run triple in the fourth inning.

 

                Saavedra, Basilicato and Wilburn each accounted for two hits in the win, while South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week Chrissy Wilkison plated the first runs of the game with her two-run single in opening frame.

 

                Katie Hubbard led King with a pair of hits, including her third double of the season.  Bales scattered seven hits, allowed two runs, walked one and fanned another to pick up the victory.  King's Laura Peters (0-1) went the distance in her first decision of the year.

 

                Tusculum will be in action again this weekend for the South Carolina Fast Pitch Classic in Spartanburg.  The Pioneers will open play on Friday when they face West Virginia State College at 1 p.m.  TC will follow that contest later in the day when they take on host and 19th-ranked USC Upstate.  King will host Indiana University Southeast for a doubleheader on Friday.

 

- TC -