GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University softball may finally open its South Atlantic Conference season this week. The Pioneers are scheduled to host nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday (Mar. 10) and head toward the mountains to Mars Hill on Saturday (Mar. 13).

RECAPPING THE WEEK
The Pioneers played at home for the first time this season, going 3-1 on the week, sweeping Belmont Abbey and splitting with Lees-McRae. Emily Sappington opened Red Edmonds Field in style, pitching the program's first no-hitter since 2013.

Alexis Grampp and Anna Alloway led the TU offense at the plate. Grampp hit .583 and slugged 1.417 on a .667 on-base percentage, collecting seven hits (five for extra bases), six runs batted in, four runs scored, and three walks. Alloway averaged .563 with nine hits, three doubles, four RBI, and two runs. Hayley Lazo is also credited with four RBI and her first two collegiate hits, a double and a triple.

Aside from her five inning run-rule no-hitter, Sappington tossed another three innings, totaling 14 strikeouts and no extra base hits allowed on a 0.88 earned run average. Kaitlyn Pickens and Keylon Reynolds picked up the remaining wins, combining for 10 innings and nine strikeouts.

Tusculum is ranked across the top-10 in Division II in four statistical categories: double plays (2nd; 7), sacrifice bunts (t-8th; 11), double plays per game (9th; 0.58), and hit by pitch (10th; 15).

Individually, pitchers Sappington and Pickens are tied for the Division II lead in least amount of batters hit with one. The former is also 24th nationally after throwing four complete games. Alloway and Longmire are tied for 22nd with five doubles, while the pair are also ranked in hits (23rd; 19) and hit by pitches (17th; 4), respectively. Grampp's four home runs are good for 22nd in the country.

LOOKING AHEAD
No. 8 Lincoln Memorial (14-1, 3-1 SAC) will travel twice for SAC contests, starting at Tusculum on Wednesday. Audrey Petoskey has been putting the bat to the ball for the Railsplitters, averaging .432, a .481 OBP, and an even 1.000 slugging percentage. She has seven homers and four doubles throughout her 19 hits, adding 28 RBI (NCAA-leading) and three walks. Sierra Hucklebee (.412) and Ty-Kella Goins (.404) are also averaging over. 400 through the team's 15 games. Emma Frost has pitched the most innings for LMU with 42.0, compiling a 5-1 record on a 3.00 ERA. She also has two saves and 53 strikeouts, while walking nine batters.

Mars Hill (6-7, 1-3 SAC) is in for a busy week, playing four doubleheaders between today and Sunday (Mar. 14). Maggie Langheim has been the big bat thus far for the Lions, notching 15 hits with four home runs included. She has totaled 13 RBI, five runs scored, and two walks on a .366 batting average. Marissa Adame has pitched over half of Mars Hill's innings, completing all seven games (tied for 2nd in Division II) she has started for a collective 45.2 frames. She has a 3.83 ERA and 4-3 record, alongside 67 strikeouts (3rd in the NCAA) and 21 walks.

Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.

ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Mars Hill is currently not permitting fans or parents of visiting teams to attend on-campus events.

At this time, no fans of visiting teams are permitted at any Tusculum University venue. The full TU athletic attendance policy can be found here.