WINGATE, N.C. --- Tusculum second baseman Daulton Martin has been named to the 2018 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region second team.

The Pioneers also received votes in the NCBWA Southeast Region Poll.  Tusculum received four total points in a vote of media relations directors who cover the sport in the region.

Martin, a sophomore from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, finished third on the squad and 11th in the South Atlantic Conference with his .372 batting average last year.  He accumulated 64 hits, including 12 doubles, four home runs and a team-best three triples (T11th in SAC). 

The 2017 All-SAC honorable mention choice finished the season with 39 RBI while scoring 36 runs.  He led Tusculum with his 94 total bases and a TC-best .547 slugging percentage.  He also led the Pioneers with his 27 walks (T15th in SAC) and finished sixth in the conference with his .471 on-base percentage.

Martin, who was also tabbed to the 2018 Preseason All-SAC second team, wrapped up his rookie campaign with an 11-game hitting streak as he batted .525 (21-of-40) with 15 RBI, 13 runs scored, four doubles and three home runs.

Mount Olive is the preseason favorite in the region as the Trojans picked up 88 total points and three first place votes. North Georgia is second in the poll with 86 points including five first place votes. Catawba is third with 84 points and the two remaining first place nods. UNC Pembroke is fourth with 62 points, followed by USC Aiken (54), Georgia College (48), Belmont Abbey (46), Lincoln Memorial (39), North Greenville (23) and Columbus State (10).  Joining Tusculum in the receiving votes category are Flagler (4) and Newberry 2).

The Pioneers, who are coming off a 30-20 campaign, open the 2018 season next Thursday (Feb. 1) when they travel to Embry-Riddle for the first meeting between TC and the Eagles.  Tusculum will play four games total in Florida, including contests next weekend at 12^th-ranked Nova Southeastern, Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn University.

NCBWA Preseason Southeast Region Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Flagler 4, TUSCULUM 4, Newberry 2

Tusculum opponents in Italics

NCBWA Preseason All-Southeast Region Team
First Team
C - Brandon Purcell, Georgia College
1B - Mason McClellan, Columbus State
2B - Kyle Smith, Catawba
3B – Cal Gentry, Georgia College
SS - Tyler Adams, Lincoln Memorial
OF - Nick Beinlich, Belmont Abbey
OF - Luke Setzer, Catawba
OF - Logan Augustine, Lincoln Memorial
DH - Bill Leroy, North Georgia
UT - Ethan Crout, Flagler
SP - Daniel McCrary, North Georgia
SP - Tucker Burgess, North Greenville
SP - Hunter Shepherd, Catawba
RP - Griffin Hollifield, Coker

Second Team
C - Brian Parreira, USC Aiken
1B - Drew Ellis, Mount Olive
2B - Daulton Martin, Tusculum
3B - Chase Allen, Limestone
SS - Zach Piazza, Limestone
OF - Logan Mattix, Georgia College
OF - Jose Bonilla, USC Aiken
OF - Roberto Rivera, UNC Pembroke
DH - Ben Herring, Newberry
UT - Jarratt Mobley, UNC Pembroke
SP - Anthony Burke, UNC Pembroke
SP - Steven Bower, North Georgia
SP - Michael Livingston, Young Harris
RP - Cole Hinnant, Francis Marion