TUCSON, Ariz. --- On the strength of its 3-0 weekend, the Tusculum College baseball team has jumped seven spots and is listed No. 18 in this week's Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II Coaches Poll announced College officials Monday.
Tusculum (3-0) posted victories over Newberry (13-2), Wingate (10-2) and No. 28 Catawba (6-1) at the Preseason South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Kannapolis, N.C.
Junior shortstop Maikol Gonzalez led the Tusculum offense as he went 8-for-12 (.667) on the weekend, including four RBI. For his efforts, he was named the SAC Player of the Week.
The Pioneers hit .358 as a team and averaged nearly 10 runs per game. The Tusculum pitching corps was outstanding posting a 1.67 earned run average and limited the opposition to a .204 batting average. TC pitchers also struck out 34 batters on the weekend, including a school and conference record 18 against Wingate. Tusculum's defense was also stellar, committing only one error in 109 total chances on the weekend.
The Pioneers received 108 votes and is tied for 18th with West Chester. Defending national champion Tampa holds onto the top spot, while California-Chico is second, followed by Florida Southern, Delta State and Georgia College & State to round out the top five.
Tusculum hosts Davis and Elkins College this weekend for a three-game series, beginning with Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader at Pioneer Park.