GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University softball split the two-game series with Bluefield State on Saturday (Mar. 7).
Tusculum (9-9) opens up South Atlantic Conference play on Tuesday (Mar. 10) at Coker. The doubleheader between the Pioneers and Cobras is scheduled for a noon start.
Game 1: Tusculum 6, Bluefield State 1
Chelsey Stonesifer twirled another impressive complete game, while Ellie Alvarez went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and three RBI.
TU got on the board quickly with a pair in the first inning. Abby Hunter drew a seven-pitch walk, racing to third on an Ella Majchrzak single, with the latter advancing to second on the throw. Alvarez did damage on the first pitch she saw, a double to left center to score both runners.
The Pioneers tacked on two more in the second. Stonesifer led off with a single through the left side. Katie Jones singled to center, as Stonesifer beat the throw to third. Jones went to second on the play. Izzy Wilson knocked a sacrifice fly to left with both runners advancing and Stonesifer scoring. With two outs, Majchrzak popped a double to center, allowing Jones to jog home.
The Big Blue broke through in the fourth. A leadoff walk stole second and came home on a double.
Tusculum extended its lead with two more runs in the fourth. Jones was called out on a groundout but, on appeal, was ruled safe with a single. In an attempt to pick her off, the catcher threw to the first baseman but the ball hit Jones and ricochet into right field, allowing her to advance to second. Wilson dropped a blooper down the third base line to put runners on the corners with no outs. Hunter flew out to right, but Jones was able to score on the sacrifice. Alvarez doubled to right center with two outs to score Wilson from second.
Bluefield State threatened in the third after a double and a walk to lead off the inning, but Stonesifer struck out the following three batters.
The visitors also made a push in the third, but the TU defense held. A lead off single went to second on a groundout. Another single put runners on the corners with one out. The last batter hit into a double play as Majchrzak, Jones, and Ava Hallows executed the textbook play.
Stonesifer (7-3) allowed one run on eight hits with three walks and seven strikeouts across 112 pitches.
Game 2: Bluefield State 6, Tusculum 2
The Big Blue capitalized on Pioneer miscues to score four unearned runs, as the BSU pitcher Yonah Rogers kept Tusculum at bay.
Bluefield State broke the scoreless tie in the third inning. A one-out single came around to score on a hit to right center.
Tusculum tied the game back up at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Taylor Hancock singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The TU catcher came home on a Hallows single back up the middle.
The Big Blue regained the advantage in the fifth with a pair of runs. A leadoff walk was followed by a single and a passed ball to put a pair of runners in scoring position. They scored on a single down the first base line.
The Pioneers' final run was a little league home run to lead off the fifth. Muriel Dillow tripled to center and a throwing error allowed her to score without breaking stride.
Bluefield State added three insurance runs in the seventh using a single, a steal, an error, a walk, and a passed ball.
Aleyia Satterfield (2-3) tossed a career-high 6.1 innings on 108 pitches, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits with four walks and a collegiate-best five strikeouts. Dani Beckham got the final two outs, including a strikeou
