SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Newberry softball team picked up a first round win over West Virginia State University, 12-6, but were later knocked out of the tournament in heartbreaking fashion, 5-4, to South Atlantic Conference foe Tusculum College in the single elimination portion of the South Carolina Fast Pitch Classic.  The Lady Indians move to 14-20-1 on the season. 

All of Newberry’s starters recorded at least one hit in the 15-hit performance against West Virginia State.  The Lady Indians put one run on the board in the first inning but gave up four in the West Virginia State second.  However, Newberry was able to respond in the second with six runs on six hits.  Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) scored Ashleigh Anderson (Barnwell, S.C.) with a single and Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.) followed with a two-run single to right field.  Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) also added an RBI single and Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) capped the inning with a two-run blast over the center field fence. 

West Virginia State added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth, but the Lady Indians weren’t done as they added five in their last two at bats.  Newberry closed the game with an RBI single from Betsy Shealy (Leesville, S.C.) and a two-run single from Rachelle Kenworthy (Riley, Kan.) in the sixth inning.

McKenzie Phillips (Wallace, N.C.) (6-7) picked up the win for Newberry by striking out five in four innings of work.  Kirby earned the save, Newberry’s first of the year, struck out six, and gave up just two hits in three innings of relief.  Jaci Collins was charged with the loss. 

In the quarterfinal match-up with Tusculum, Newberry got on the board first thanks to Lindler’s solo home run in the third.  The Lady Indians kept up the defense and added three more runs in the fourth, giving them a 4-0 lead.  Hammond started the inning with a single and later scored off a Shealy RBI.  Anderson scored Kenworthy on a single up the middle and eventually stole home to close the inning. 

Tusculum never gave up as they came firing back to score two runs in the fifth.  Chrissy Wilkison’s single to right field scored both Pioneer runs.  Tusculum’s come from behind efforts didn’t stop there as they erased Newberry’s 4-0 lead for good with three runs in the sixth.  Judith Saavedra started the scoring with her fielder’s choice RBI.  Elaine Martinez produced the game-winning hit moments later with her two-run single to left field.  Lindler got on base for Newberry in the top of the seventh, but she would move no further than first base. 

Kirby (6-9) was charged with the loss while Kassie Killion picked up the win in relief effort.  Additionally, Newberry’s Kirby and Lynch were selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Next up for the Lady Indians is a home doubleheader with USC Aiken on Tuesday, March 21.  Game one is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.