ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum University softball's Emily Sappington highlighted the Pioneers' five selections to the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Championship All-Tournament Team for their performances last weekend. The left-handed pitcher collected most valuable player laurels, leading the charge in the program's first tournament title.
The 11-member team was voted upon by the participating head coaches. Sappington received the most votes, thus the MVP honor. Joining the sophomore are four teammates: Chloe Freischmidt, Anna Alloway, Alexis Grampp, and Claire Smeltzer.
Sappington, an Ashburn, Virginia native, earned all three victories for TU in the circle on an even 2.00 earned-run average. She pitched 21.0 innings with 23 strikeouts, allowed six earned runs and walked a pair. Of the 13 hits relented, only three went for extra bases. Sappington shut out the seventh-ranked team in the nation in the championship game, holding Lincoln Memorial to only three hits. At the plate, she notched four hits, three RBI, two runs scored, and her second collegiate home run.
Freischmidt, a Naples, Florida resident, finished with a team-best .545 batting average and 1.182 slugging percentage. The catcher went 6-for-11 at the plate with a walk, double, two homers, three runs scored, and six RBI. One of the junior's home runs went as a grand slam in the opening game against Catawba.
Alloway, by way of Louisville, Tennessee, was an even .500 at the plate and slugged double that. The outfielder collected seven RBI, six hits, four runs scored, and two home runs. In the 2-1 semifinal win over Anderson, Alloway batted both runs in via a single and the sacrifice fly. She also hit both of her homers against the Railsplitters in her final game at Red Edmonds Field.
Grampp, a graduate student from Harrison, Tenn., recorded five hits, five RBI, three runs scored, two home runs, and a stolen base in 13 at-bats. Each of the shortstop's homers were with a runner of base and one of her singles was with a runner in scoring position.
Smeltzer, from Smithfield, Va., notched five hits in the tournament with three going for doubles, one in each contest. The freshman outfielder also walked, scored a run, and is credited with one RBI. Smeltzer was the driving force in the game against Anderson, finishing 3-for-3 with her spot in the batting order scoring both runs.
2021 SAC Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Emily Sappington, Tusculum (MVP)
Chloe Freischmidt, Tusculum
Anna Alloway, Tusculum
Jordan Dean, Catawba
Alexis Grampp, Tusculum
Emma Frost, Lincoln Memorial
Claire Smeltzer, Tusculum
Leah Sohm, Carson-Newman
Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial
Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial
Mattie Hamilton, Anderson
