INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College baseball team continues to be listed amongst the national leaders in this week's NCAA Division II statistics. The Pioneers (36-16) are ranked in eight team categories, while five Tusculum players are listed, individually.

Tusculum's pitching staff continues to shine as the Pioneers are ranked ninth in team earned run average (3.36) and seventh in walks allowed per nine innings pitched (2.64). Offensively, the Pioneers are 17th nationally in sacrifice flies (29), 16th in triples (19), 33rd in stolen bases (87), and 44th in home runs (50). The 50 home runs belted by the Pioneers are the second most in school history. Tusculum is also 26th in double plays turned (45) and 36th in won-loss percentage (.692).

Junior outfielder Jared Richmond (Ft. Smith, Ark.) is 11th in the country with his six triples. Junior outfielder Nate Grabowski (Pennellville, N.Y.) is 42nd in walks (34), while junior catcher Sean Cotten (Mooresville, N.C.) is 10th in sacrifice flies. Cotten's seven sacrifice flies are tied for the second-most in a Tusculum season and two off the record nine set by two-time All-American Maikol Gonzalez in 2007.

C.J. Hillyer, the 2009 South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year, is listed in two statistical categories. The Abington, Mass. senior is 43rd in ERA (2.55) and 49th in walks allowed per nine innings pitched (1.62).

Senior relief pitcher Rob Currie (St. Charles, Ill.) is 42nd in the land, posting six saves this season, which is tied for fourth most in school history.

Tusculum captured its fourth SAC Championship in the last five years this season and has already clinched its fifth straight campaign with at least 35 victories and seventh in a row with 30 or more wins. The Pioneers will learn their NCAA postseason fate this weekend with the release of the NCAA Division II Tournament field.

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