GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Courtney Lindler tied the Newberry College single-season record for runs batted in at 49, as the Lady Indians swept Tusculum College in a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader Thursday.

Lindler, a senior shortstop from Irmo, drove in three runs in the 4-2 Game One win, and extended her school record hitting streak to 22 consecutive games in the nightcap, which the Lady Indians won, 3-1 in eight innings.

Senior pitcher Christina Kirby pitched all 15 innings for the Lady Indians to move to 14-9 on the season, as well as collecting a crucial game-tying RBI in the second game. Kirby's 14 wins marks her best season in that category in her four-year career, and is tied for the fourth-best season by a Newberry pitcher with Angie Follweiler's 1997 season.

Newberry moves to 31-20-1 overall this season and evens its South Atlantic Conference record at 5-5. Tusculum is now 24-17 overall and 3-7 in league play.

Game One: Newberry 4, Tusculum 2
Kirby scattered six hits and struck out four through seven innings, as Lindler's three RBIs gave Newberry the win.

Tusculum struck first, as Judith Saavedra doubled down the left field line, stole third and scored on a fielding error to give the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage.

Newberry tied the game in the top of the third after Ginna Dean (Willow Springs, N.C.) reached on an error and was plated by a Lindler single.

The Lady Indians took the lead in the top of the fourth, when Kirby led the inning off with a double down the left field line. Stephanie Blazer (Greenville, S.C.) replaced her on the basepaths, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jenny Raines (Blythewood, S.C.) and scored on a wild pitch by TC pitcher Holli Cadenhead.

Lindler tied the school's single-season RBI record with a two-out, two-run single that gave Newberry a 4-1 lead going into the last of the seventh. The record of 49 RBIs in one year was set by Lisa Graham in 2002.

Tusculum would not lose quietly though, as Cadenhead reached on a bunt single and was plated by a Lynnsey Jett single, making it 4-2 with one out. But Kirby struck out Saavedra and forced Anna Johnson to fly out to end the game.

Cadenhead (7-5) picked up the loss for Tusculum, giving up two runs - one earned - on three hits in 3-2/3 innings. Kassie Killion gave up two runs on three hits in 3-1/3 innings of relief.

Game Two: Newberry 3, Tusculum 1 (8)
Tusculum took an early lead on a Johnson triple, but the Newberry defense stranded 10 Pioneers on base en route to the nightcap victory.

The Lady Indians were unable to take advantage with runners in scoring position in three of the first five innings, but tied the game in the sixth. Lindler's lead-off single through the left side gave her a hit in 22 consecutive games, and a Kirby double to centerfield plated her to knot the score at 1-all.

The Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the sixth, with runners on second and third with one out, but Kirby induced two fly outs to emerge from the inning unscathed.

After neither team was able to score in the seventh, Dean started the top of the eighth on second base for Newberry due to the international tiebreaker. Amy Jarrell (Dover, Del.) attempted a sacrifice bunt, but a TC throwing error allowed her to advance to second and Dean to score. After Jarrell advanced to third on a Lindler foul out, Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) plated her with a sacrifice fly to give Newberry the two-run cushion.

Tusculum advanced their tiebreaker runner, Jessica Bales, to third with two outs, but Lindler tagged out Basilicato to end the game and give Newberry the sweep.

Kirby picked up the win for the Lady Indians, giving up only one earned run on five hits and five strikeouts in eight innings.

Megan DuBois (9-6) also went the distance for Tusculum, allowing only one earned run on eight hits.

The Lady Indians now take one of their longest breaks of the season for the Easter holiday before returning to action on Wednesday. The mid-week game will feature the final regular-season South Atlantic Conference matchup between Newberry and arch-rival Presbyterian in any sport. First pitch for the crucial league twinbill is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Game Two:
Newberry College 3, Tusculum College 1 (8)

  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Newberry College.... 000 001 02 -  3  8  1      (31-20-1)
  Tusculum College.... 100 000 00 -  1  5  2      (24-17)
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Pitchers: Newberry College - Kirby. Tusculum College - Megan DuBois.
  Win-Kirby(14-9)  Loss-Megan DuBois(9-6)  T-1:59