EMORY, Va. --- The Tusculum University softball team fell in a pair of run-rule contests at Emory & Henry on Saturday (Apr. 12) afternoon.
Tusculum (34-12, 12-10 SAC) steps out of conference action to face North Greenville on Tuesday (Apr. 15) in Tigerville for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Game 1: Emory & Henry 12, #24 Tusculum 1 (5 innings)
The Wasps belted five home runs in the opener to run-rule the Pioneers.
Emory & Henry knocked in a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third.
The Pioneers got across an unearned run in the fourth. Ellie Alvarez reached on an error, advancing to second on a Sammy Jimenez single. Gabi Nicholson sent a single back up the middle to drive in Alvarez with two outs.
The Wasps added on with another two-run shot in the fourth and a RBI single. They tacked on six runs in the fifth, capped off by a game-ending grand slam.
Megan Ackerman (18-6) was tagged with the loss, going 3.2 innings while allowing six runs on 10 hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Natalie Spaitis pitched the final frame, surrendering six runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk.
Game 2: Emory & Henry 15, #24 Tusculum 4 (6 innings)
The Wasps hit another five home runs in the nightcap to collect the sweep over the ranked Pioneers.
TU scored at least one run in the final three frames.
Jimenez led off the fourth by reaching on an error. Abby Hunter hustled out an infield single. Jimenez advanced to third on a double play and was driven in by Ella Majchrzak.
Brooke Smith and Alvarez singled in back-to-back at bats with one out in the fifth. The pair advanced 60 feet on a wild pitch. Jimenez and Hunter hit consecutive RBI singles.
Majchrzak led off the sixth with a double to right center and was pinch-ran for with Riley Hope. Kylie Darrow doubled to left as Hope moved up to third. Danielle Jason grounded out but Hope was able to score.
Emory & Henry scored in five of the six innings, including a home run in each frame. The Wasps once again ended the game with a run-rule via a grand slam.
Dani Beckham (6-2) got the start, while Spaitis pitched another three innings and recorded the only strikeout by the TU pitching staff. Jason tossed the final two frames in her second career pitching appearance.
