TUSKEGEE, Ala. – The Tuskegee Golden Tigers softball team split a crucial Saturday doubleheader against SIAC rival Spring Hill at the TU Softball Field, falling 8-1 in the opener before responding with a 5-3 comeback victory in game two.
With the results, Tuskegee moves to 16-4 overall and 11-1 in the SIAC, marking their first conference loss of the season.
Spring Hill improved to 14-12 overall and 10-2 in league play as both teams battle for position atop the conference standings.
Spring Hill 8, Tuskegee 1
The opener was a tightly contested pitchers' duel through the first five innings before the Badgers broke the game open in the final two frames.
Spring Hill took a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth when Bethany Ahrens launched a three-run homer to center field.
The Golden Tigers answered with a run in the bottom half as Carole Ross drove in a run on a single to left, bringing the score to 3-1.
However, the momentum quickly shifted back to the Badgers in the top of the seventh as they erupted for five more runs on three hits.
Jena Pacheco and Amanda Glowacki delivered back-to-back RBI singles before Rycca Hinton capped the inning with a two-run blast to center.
A sacrifice fly from Destiny Pierce rounded out the scoring to put the game out of reach.
Monica Rose (7-2) went the distance for Tuskegee, pitching all seven innings while allowing seven hits and eight runs (four earned), striking out two and walking one.
Despite the loss, she remained composed through most of the contest before Spring Hill's bats came alive late.
Offensively, the Golden Tigers managed just four hits, one each from Ross, Caroline Clark, Jessica Morales, and Alexis Thompson.
Ross provided the lone RBI for Tuskegee. The Badgers played flawless defense, turning one double play and committing no errors, while also swiping three bases on the day.
Tuskegee 5, Spring Hill 3
Tuskegee showed resilience in the second game of the doubleheader, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to seal a 5-3 victory.
The comeback win handed Spring Hill just its second SIAC loss of the season and allowed the Golden Tigers to salvage the day.
Spring Hill opened the scoring in the top of the third on a Tuskegee fielding error, bringing in the game's first run.
The Badgers extended their lead in the fifth inning on another Tuskegee miscue and an RBI groundout from Hinton to make it 3-0.
The Golden Tigers sparked a rally in the sixth with timely hitting and heads-up base running.
Rose delivered a clutch RBI single to plate the first run before Victoria Harrison followed with a double to deep left-center, tying the game at 3-3.
With two runners on, Kaeley Roldan grounded out to second base but drove in both the go-ahead and insurance runs with aggressive baserunning to make it 5-3.
Kamya Hampton (8-2) delivered a stellar performance in the circle, going the distance and allowing just three hits and no earned runs.
The right-hander struck out nine and walked two over seven innings to earn the complete-game win and improve her record on the season.
At the plate, Clark and Harrison both went 2-for-3, while Rose, Rolden, and Harrison each collected RBIs in the win.
Defensively, Tuskegee tightened up in the late innings and made key stops to preserve the lead.
Spring Hill mustered just three hits, one each from Hinton, Taylor Pittman, and McKenzie King.
Hinton was a force on the bases, stealing two of the team's three total swipes. Despite turning two double plays, the Badgers couldn't hold onto their late lead.
Tuskegee and Spring Hill are scheduled to conclude the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in what promises to be a pivotal matchup in the SIAC standings.
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