GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team will continue its search for the first South Atlantic Conference victory of the season, facing nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate and Mars Hill at J.C. Red Edmonds Field.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (13-12, 0-4 SAC) is in the midst of a six-game losing streak after dropping a non-conference set at King and two close SAC contests against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Emily Sappington went 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of walks in three games. Kallyn Newport and Kiley Longmire were both 4-for-12 in the batter's box, adding a double and a run. Newport drove in a pair of runs, walked, and stole a base. Longmire tallied one RBI.
Keylon Reynolds threw 7.2 innings of relief on a 0.91 earned-run average in two appearances. Only one earned run crossed the plate when she was in the circle. Sappington pitched the bulk of the week's innings (13.0) across two complete games. She struck out 17 with five earned runs.
As of the March 10 update, Tusculum is ranked across the top-25 nationally in sacrifice flies (19th; 8), triples (23rd; 8), and hits (25th; 191).
Individually, in the most recent ranking, Emily Sappington is fourth in DII with 10 complete games, 16th with 11 starts, and 17th with 83 strikeouts. Mya Maddox is 10th with 17 steals, 14th with three triples, and 16th with her 33 hits.
LOOKING AHEAD
Lincoln Memorial (18-6, 1-1 SAC), who was ranked 12th in last week's poll. split its doubleheader at UVA Wise over the weekend. Emma Webb has a team-best .430 average at the plate with 34 hits, including eight doubles. McKenzie Henry is batting .414 with 29 hits (11 for extra bases), 26 RBI and 12 walks. Emma Frost has been the workhorse in the circle for the Railsplitters, tossing over half of their innings with 82.1 under her belt. In 14 appearances (12 starts), she is 10-3 with 11 complete games and three shutouts on a 1.45 ERA, relenting 17 earned runs, and 16 walks with 118 strikeouts.
Mars Hill (3-13, 0-4 SAC) travels to Catawba on Tuesday in search of its first SAC win, having lost its last five games. Farley Park is leading the Lions with 17 hits and 11 RBI on a .436 average. Alicia Wittenhagen has notched a team-high four homers and 12 walks. Marissa Adame has thrown the most innings for Mars Hill with an even 45.0. Across 10 appearances she has seven starts and four complete games for a 1-7 record. She has surrendered 58 hits, 42 earned runs, and 26 walks with 33 strikeouts on a 6.53 ERA.
Links to live stats and video, when available, for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
