Lady Railsplitters Suffer Sweep Against Tusculum College, Fall 6-2 And 2-1
March 20, 2012
Amanda Snow belts a solo home run against Tusculum. Photo by Allen Earl PhotographyHARROGATE, TN -- The Lady Railsplitters were limited to just three runs, as the Tusculum College Pioneers grabbed a doubleheader sweep over LMU in South Atlantic Conference softball play at Dorothy Neely Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Pioneers ran away late to take a 6-2 victory in the opening game, and capped the sweep with a 2-1 win in a pitchers' duel in the finale. With the two losses, the Lady Railsplitters fall to 2-6 in the SAC and 10-21 overall. Tusculum improves to 23-12 on the season and a perfect 6-0 in the conference.
Game One- Tusculum-6
Lincoln Memorial-2
The Pioneers tied the game at two apiece in the top of the third and rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to take control of the contest, eventually rolling to a 6-2 win in the opener. Amanda Snow (4-6) was saddled with the loss as she tossed a complete game, allowing nine hits and six runs. On the other side, Elizabeth Johnson (18-7) also notched a complete game, surrendering only five hits and two runs.
Amanda Snow and Danae Reed recorded the two RBIs in the contest for the Lady Railsplitters.
The Lady Railsplitters got on the board early, as Amanda Snow pounded a two-out solo blast in the bottom of the first frame to LMU on top, 1-0.
Tusculum answered in the top of the second as a single and two walks allowed a run on Savannah Ewing's bases loaded walk. LMU responded in the bottom of that frame to regain the lead. Taylor McGinnis led off the inning with a single and Cierra Mudd quickly followed with a double. Following a ground out, Danae Reed gave the Lady Railsplitters a 2-1 lead with a single to right field.
The remaining scoring in the affair went to the Pioneers as Lindsey Umberger knotted the game up at two apiece with an inside the park homerun in the top of the third.
The Pioneers broke the game open in the top of the fifth as they posted a three run bulge. Kaytlin Stroinski's two-out single set the stage and Umberger took advantage with a double into the left center gap. Ashley Burke followed with another RBI double and a single from Paige Sneed capped the three-run rally, putting the Pioneers on top, 5-2. Tusculum College added another insurance run in the top of the seventh and the Lady Railsplitters went down in order in their half of that inning to give the Pioneers a 6-2 victory.
Game Two- Tusculum-2
Lincoln Memorial-1
Meghan LaFevor (5-10) tossed a complete game gem for the Lady Railsplitters, allowing only two runs on five Pioneer hits, however, she was bested by Elizabeth Johnson (20-6) who went pitch-for-pitch with LaFevor, limiting LMU to only six hits and one run. Tusculum College broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh to steal the victory and cap the sweep.
After three scoreless innings in which the two teams combined for only four hits, Tusculum College broke onto the board with a run in the top of the fourth. Lindsey Umberger reached on a fielder's choice with one out in the frame and Ashley Burke responded with a double into the right center gap to put the Pioneers on top, 1-0.
The Lady Railsplitters answered in the bottom of that frame, as Bridget Eicher led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Amanda Snow sent Eicher home with a single into left field to knot the game at one apiece.
The two pitchers continued to dazzle in the next two innings, as the Lady Railsplitters notched the only hit in that span for either side. The Pioneers were able to break out in the top of the seventh as Ashley Bagley drove home Ashley Burke, who reached on a single, to take a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Railsplitters went down in order in that frame as they were handed a 2-1 loss in the finale, suffering a sweep at the hands of the Pioneers.
Brianna Mulkey was a perfect 3-3 from the plate in the contest and Sarah Walz went 2-3 on the day to lead the Lady Railsplitters' offensive attack.
The Lady Railsplitters will be back in action on March 22nd, as they head to King College for a nonconference doubleheader with the Tornado. The first game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
