RALEIGH, N.C. - Tusculum College defeated Bowie State University 9-1 in action at the Shaw Softball Challenge Sunday afternoon, in a game halted in the sixth inning due to the eight-run rule.
 
The Pioneers (13-7) scored in five of their six times at bat in the game, with Taylor Battle, Jenna Restivo and Bailey Culler each knocking in two runs apiece against the Lady Bulldogs (1-4).
 
Tusculum took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Battle was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a sacrifice and scored on a single by Emily Hester. After a force out, Restivo doubled to knock home Robin Stoner and give the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage.
 
In the second, Treslyn Reese led off with a triple, and pinch runner Taylor Lewis scored on a single by Miranda Beeler. Battle then delivered a single to bring home Beeler and push the Pioneers in front 4-0.
 
The Lady Bulldogs scored their only run in the third without benefit of a hit as Pioneer starter Taylor Plemons walked the bases loaded with no outs. Eliza Davis came on in relief and allowed a sacrifice fly that scored freshman Madison Margas (Stevensville, Md.), but kept the Pioneer lead at 4-1.
 
Tusculum tacked on another run in the fifth as Morgan Ward led off with a double, and pinch runner Morgan Mahaffey came home on a fielder's choice for a 5-1 Tusculum lead. The Pioneers added two more runs in the fifth as Carolyn Williamson walked and Emily Hester followed with a single. Stoner and Restivo delivered the runs with sacrifice flies to extend the Pioneer lead to 7-1.
 
The Pioneers closed out the game with two more runs in the sixth, as Reese led off with a walk and Culler followed with an RBI double. After a bunt, Battle brought home the winning run with a ground ball to give the Pioneers the run-rule victory.
 
Hester went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Pioneers while Beeler was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored. Eight of the nine batting positions in the Tusculum lineup scored at least one run, with seven of the nine spots delivering a hit.
 
Davis surrendered one hit and struck out three in four scoreless innings of relief of Plemons, who allowed three hits and three walks while striking out two in two-plus innings of work.
 
Bowie State sophomore Nicoleen Ochoa (Madison, Ohio) worked two innings for the Lady Bulldogs, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, while sophomore teammate Stefanie Ray (Damascus, Md.) gave up five earned runs on four hits and two walks in 3 2/3 of relief.
 
The Lady Bulldogs return to action Friday (March 11th) in a non-conference neutral site contest against Shippensburg University as part of the Salem (W.Va.) Invitational Tournament.