GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University softball head coach Julie Huebner earned her 350th career at the helm of the Pioneers on Good Friday (Apr. 3) with a split against Catawba.
Huebner also won her 200th contest against the Catawba Indians in 2021.
Tusculum (15-21, 3-11 SAC) continues its five-series homestand by hosting Mars Hill on Tuesday (Apr. 7) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Game 1: Tusculum 6, Catawba 2
The Pioneers scored six unanswered runs to rally for Huebner's 350th win.
Catawba used a pair of doubles to tally a run in the first inning. A RBI double in the second plated the final run for the Catawba Indians.
After the second run, Chelsey Stonesifer shut down the Indians, allowing just one baserunner for the remainder of the game, which was wiped out with a doubleplay.
TU tied the game with a two-run fourth inning. Andrea Davis and Ava Hallows hit back-to-back two-out doubles to swap places, with Hallows hustling home on an Addison Hoffner single.
The Pioneers scored the eventual winning run in the fifth. Abby Hunter doubled down the third base line and came around to score on Ella Majchrzak's two-out hit to left.
Three runs in the sixth provided breathing room for the Pioneers. Davis and Hallows had consecutive hits once again, with both advancing on a fielding error. Lily Kate Cariaco came in to run for Hallows ahead of Hoffner's two RBI single back up the middle on the first pitch of the at bat. Abby Cruz came in as a pinch-runner for Hoffner and was bunted over to second by Katie Jones. Muriel Dillow tacked on the fourth hit of the frame with a double down the left field line to bring home Cruz.
Chelsey Stonesifer (13-6) went the distance once again, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Game 2: Catawba 6, Tusculum 5
The Indians took advantage of three TU errors to score six unearned runs to salvage the split, despite a late Pioneer rally.
Tusculum scored first in game two. Hunter drew a leadoff walk and moved all the way to third on an Ellie Alvarez single and a miscue by the fielder. The pair both advanced on a wild pitch, with Hunter scoring on the play.
Catawba scored in the second to tie the game. The Indians reached on an error which came around to score after a steal and a single.
Hunter led off the third with her first triple of the season and scored on an Alvarez groundout to put TU ahead once more.
Catawba scored five runs in the fourth. The Indians singled and reached on an error to start the frame, and were bunted over into scoring position. A sacrifice fly was the second out, which preceded four-straight run-scoring hits.
Tusculum's comeback attempt started in the fifth. Dillow doubled ahead of walks by Hunter and Majchrzak. Davis drew a bases-loaded walk from the third Catawba pitcher of the inning. TU closed out the frame with a fielder's choice to the plate and a groundout.
The Indians loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth but Stonesifer struck the batter out swinging.
The Pioneers made a late push in the seventh. Hunter and Alvarez started the inning with singles and moved up on a wild pitch. Davis grounded out for the second out, but Hunter scored. Hallows single in Alvarez for the final run.
Dani Beckham was tabbed with the start and went two innings of one-run, three-hit ball with a walk and two strikeouts. Aleyia Satterfield (2-10) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits over three innings. Stonesifer returned and pitched the final two frames with three hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
