MARS HILL, N.C. — The Tusculum University softball team split a doubleheader at Mars Hill on Tuesday (Apr. 1) in a milestone showdown. In the twinbill, Danielle Jason broke both the single-season and career stolen base records at Tusculum. Meanwhile, the 32 victories are the most in a season under the leadership of head coach Julie Huebner.
Tusculum (32-8, 11-7 SAC) hosts No. 8 North Georgia on Wednesday (Apr. 2) at Red Edmonds Field. The top-25 showdown is scheduled for a noon start.
Game 1: Mars Hill 9, #25 Tusculum 1 (5 innings)
The Lions hit three home runs in the first two innings to run-rule the Pioneers.
Danielle Jason led off the contest with a single to center and stole second. The steal broke the TU career record (63) and tied the single-season mark (40). With one out, Ellie Alvarez doubled to center to plate Jason.
Mars Hill responded with a two-out, three-run homer in the first.
The Lions tacked on six more runs in the second. MHU loaded the bases with no outs and scored on a sacrifice fly, The next batter belted a home run. Two batters later, another homer.
Megan Ackerman (15-4) went just one inning in the start. She was tagged for five runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Natalie Spaitis pitched the final three frames, allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Game 2: #25 Tusculum 16, Mars Hill 15 (10 innings)
The Pioneers tied or reset five records in the 10-inning slugfest. Jason had the most at bats in a single game in program history as she and Alvarez tied the hit record with five each. As a team, TU finished with the most at bats (53), while adding the second-most hits (24) and combined runs (31). The 42 combined hits and 25 combined runners left on base were also records.
All nine starters in the batting order recorded at least one RBI, led by Addison Hoffner‘s trio.
Brooke Smith reached on an error and stole second with one out in the first. She advanced to third on an Alvarez single. Smith scored on Gabi Nicholson‘s single to left.
Mars Hill countered with a pair of RBI singles in the home half of the inning.
The Lions added on with three solo home runs in the second to lead 5-1.
TU tied the game with a four-run third inning. Jason legged out an infield single, stole second, and advanced on a throwing error. She scored on a Smith single up the middle. Alvarez followed with a single as both runners moved up on a groundout. Abby Hunter bunted for a single to load the bases with one out. Smith was cut down at home on Hoffner’s fielder’s choice. Alvarez scored on Hailey Nichols‘ infield single. Kylie Darrow scored two teammates on her single back up the middle.
A leadoff solo homer put MHU up after three frames.
Mars Hill added two more runs in the fourth on four hits.
Hoffner hit her second homer of the season in the fifth. Hunter doubled to center and Hoffner drilled a home run over the left field fence.
The Lions scored two on a crazy play in the bottom half of the inning to lead 10-7.
Tusculum’s comeback escalated in the sixth. Smith and Alvarez notched back-to-back singles and advanced to scoring positions on a throw. With two outs, Hunter connected for her second double of the contest to bring the Pioneers back within one.
TU was down to its last out before sending the game to extra. Jason raced out an infield single with two outs, moving up on Smith’s walk, the lone one drawn in the doubleheader. Alvarez sent a base hit back up the middle and the speedy Jason scored to tie the contest at 10-all.
Emma Golden was placed on second base as the international tiebreaker and was bunted over by Hunter. Hoffner drove a sacrifice fly to center to score Golden.
MHU bunted over their runner as well before driving her in on a double. After a single and a walk, the Lions had the bases loaded with one out. Dani Beckham struck out the next batter before a groundout sent the game to the ninth.
Tusculum scored four in the top of the ninth on five hits and an error. Alyssa Barbrick was the runner at second as Darrow reached on a throwing error, sending Barbrick to third. Darrow stole second. Riley Hope singled to first and advanced to second, scoring Barbrick as Darrow was thrown out at the plate. Jason, Smith, Alvarez, and Nicholson connected for four-straight hits, plating an additional three runs.
Mars Hill used three hits and an error to even the nightcap at 15-15. After a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third, the Lions notched a double, scored on an error, and hit a two-run homer.
Hoffner scored the eventual winning run for the Pioneers. As the international tiebreaker, Hoffner advanced to third on Nichols’ single. The latter stole second as TU struck out in consecutive at bats. With two outs, Jason singled to score Hoffner in her record-breaking at bat.
MHU had three-straight foul outs to close the contest.
Ackerman (16-4) made the start in the marathon before returning in extras to earn the win. In total, she tossed 3.2 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Spaitis tossed two frames with four runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks. Dani Beckham was the game two workhorse, lasting 4.1 innings with five hits, five runs (one earned), one walk, and two strikeouts.
