TUCSON, Ariz. --- The Tusculum Pioneers are ranked No. 12 in this week's Collegiate Baseball News Division II Coaches' Poll. The Pioneers dropped five spots in this week's poll following a 4-2 record last week. TU split a series ending doubleheader with Newberry last Monday and followed with a 3-1 series win at Anderson this past weekend.

Tusculum (22-7, 18-6 South Atlantic Conference) received 151 total points and is one of two SAC teams listed in this week's top-30 along with No. 28 Catawba (19-6, 15-5). The Pioneers and Catawba Indians are tied for the top-spot in the league standings with a won-loss percentage of .750.

Colorado Mesa moved up a spot to take the No. 1 ranking in this week's poll. Tampa is second, followed by Angelo State, Central Missouri, Lee, West Texas A&M, Mount Olive, North Greenville, Lindenwood and West Florida to comprise the top-10.

Missouri Southern is 11^th, followed by Tusculum, Augustana, Azusa Pacific, Seton Hill, UNC Pembroke, Illinois-Springfield, Charleston (W.Va.), Metro State-Denver, Southern New Hampshire, Northwest Nazarene, Minnesota State-Mankato, Minnesota-Crookston, North Georgia, Columbus State, Southern Arkansas, Northwood, Catawba, Millersville and Texas-Tyler.

The Pioneers lead the nation in walks with 178, while TU is also tops in league in five other categories including runs scored (275 – 2^nd in NCAA II), sacrifice flies (19 – 2^nd in NCAA II), hit by pitch (62 – 2^nd in NCAA II), doubles (67 – 4^th in NCAA II) and on-base percentage (.445 – 10^th in NCAA II).

Senior outfielder Brandon Trammell leads the country with his 45 RBI while graduate student Bryson Ford continues to lead the nation in runs scored with 43. Junior outfielder Kyle Williams is second in Division II with his eight sacrifice bunts and 18^th nationally with his 13 stolen bases (3^rd in SAC).

Trammell's 10 home runs are tied for the conference lead and are 12^th-best in the country. His 42 total hits are 10^th-best in Division II, while his 81 total bases are the most in the league and sixth nationally.

Tusculum closer Mitch McCain is tied for the SAC lead with his five saves, which are also ranked fifth-best in the country. TU starting pitcher Gunner Becker has a 6-1 record this season which are the most wins in the conference and sixth-most in Division II.

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Hickory, North Carolina to face Lenoir-Rhyne in a mid-week, non-conference contest. Tusculum defeated the Bears 8-2 last month in Greeneville.

Collegiate Baseball News Division II Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Shorter, Slippery Rock.