GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University softball's full week begins with a Wednesday (Feb. 17) series at Emmanuel (Ga.) before playing host to the annual Pioneer Classic and a Monday matinee. In total, Red Edmonds Field will be home to 12 games over the course of three days (Feb. 20-22).
RECAPPING THE WEEK
The Pioneers last played one week ago, dropping both games of the doubleheader to Lee.
Claire Smeltzer and Kiley Longmire excelled in the batter's box, averaging a fiery .714 on 5-of-7 hitting and an on-base percentage of .778. Smeltzer slugged .714 while driving in two runs. Longmire notched three doubles and four RBI on her way to a 1.143 slugging percentage. Anna Alloway was also solid against the Flames, going 3-for-5 with five runs scored, three walks, two RBI, and a home run.
Emily Sappington led the pitching staff with nine strikeouts in her complete game. Savannah Foster allowed just a pair of earned runs in her lone outing.
Tusculum is ranked across the top-15 in NCAA Division II in seven statistical categories: doubles per game (2nd; 2.75), hit by pitch (2nd; 9), sacrifice flies (3th; 3), double plays (5th; 2), double plays per game (7th; 0.50), doubles (8th; 11), and shutouts (14th; 1).
Individually, Longmire is second nationally with four doubles and an average of one per game. Claire Crout and Alexis Grampp have both been plunked twice, good for fifth in the country. Mya Maddox's three stolen bases tie her for the conference lead and 11th in DII.
LOOKING AHEAD
Emmanuel (2-0) and Tusculum are set to meet for the first time in program history on Wednesday. The Lions swept Limestone via a pair of one-run wins. Sydney Blackmon pitched a five-hit shutout in game two, walking one and striking out three along the way. Emmanuel is 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts, led by a pair from Brighton Harder. Isabelle Petty has scored two runs and is responsible for half of the Lions' doubles.
The Pioneer Classic will feature six teams, including the host TU, over the two-day (Feb. 20-21) tournament. Tiffin, Lees-McRae, King, UVA Wise, and Concord are set to partake in the event.
Tusculum will play Tiffin and Lees-McRae to kick off the affair on Saturday, revisiting the Bobcats in the tournament finale on Sunday. The Pioneers and Dragons are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Monday before Tiffin returns to Ohio as well.
Tiffin will open its 2021 season in Greeneville in the first ever meeting of the teams, while Lees-McRae plans to have six games under its belt before the trip to Tennessee. The Pioneers lead the all-time series 27-10 over the Bobcats.
At this time, no visiting fans are permitted at any TU venues. The full Tusculum University athletic attendance policy can be found here.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.