Tuesday, April 15, 2008

TUSCULUM SOFTBALL SWEEPS LADY COBRAS ON SENIOR DAY

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. ---- Taylor McDonald went 3-for-7 to lead the Tusculum softball team to a doubleheader sweep over Virginia Intermont Tuesday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field. Tusculum (19-22) got a solid complete-game effort by senior Megan DuBois in a 7-2 win in the opener. In the night-cap, McDonald and Jess Greer each went 2-for-3 as the Pioneers completed the sweep with a 5-1 victory.

Tuesday was also the final home games for Tusculum seniors Anna Johnson and DuBois.

Game 1: Tusculum 7, Virginia Intermont 2

Rachel Wilburn went 2-for-3, including her three-run double in the second inning as the Pioneers won 7-2. Tusculum also got a 2-for-3 effort by Makenzie Loy, while Johnson posted a 1-for-3 effort.

DuBois was outstanding in her final game at Edmonds Field as she scattered nine hits, allowed two unearned runs, walked none and struck out four to improve her record to 8-6.

The Lady Cobras (7-23) out-hit Tusculum by a 9-8 margin, led by Lindsey Smith’s 3-for-4 performance, including her two-run double in the seventh to break-up the shut out.

V-I starter Megan Branson went the distance in the loss as she allowed eight hits, seven runs, one earned, walked two and fanned five.

Game 2: Tusculum 5, Virginia Intermont 1

In the second game, all the scoring came late as the Pioneer erupted for five runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run, pinch hit homer by Ashley Basilicato as Tusculum won 5-1.

MacDonald finished with two hits, including her first collegiate home run, that coming in the sixth frame.

TC rookie starter Ashley Whitehead came up with a complete-game effort as she scattered six hits, allowed a run, walked three and posted 10 strikeouts to up her record to 5-8. V-I starter Kristen Dyer suffered the loss as she struck out eight, while allowing seven hits, five run, three earned and no walks.

Heather Odle led Virginia Intermont with a pair of hits, including a double in the loss.

Tusculum returns to action on Thursday when the No. 8 seed Pioneers take on top-seeded Carson-Newman in the opening round of the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. That game will begin at 4:15 p.m. on the campus of Newberry College in Newberry, S.C. Tusculum has won six in a row and eight of its last 10 heading into this week’s double-elimination tournament.

- TC –