INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College softball team is ranked among the nation's leaders in five individual and team categories in this week's edition of the NCAA Division II statistics, announced NCAA officials Wednesday.

Tusculum (17-25, 5-11 SAC) has won three of its last four games after dropping a pair of one-run contests to Newberry College on the final day of the conference schedule, entering this weekend's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament as the sixth seed in the eight-team tournament.

The Pioneers enter the week ranked 44th in the nation in double plays per game, recording an average of 0.35 twin-killings per contest. Tusculum is also ranked 83rd in fielding percentage with a 0.959 mark.

Three Pioneers are also ranked individually, led by senior Holli Cadenhead, who enters the week ranked 15th in the nation in walks allowed per seven innings (0.91). Sophomore Brittany Hunley is ranked 26th in hit by pitch per game (0.24), while sophomore Phlyscia Powell is ranked 72nd in triples with a trio of three-baggers.

Tusculum returns to the diamond on Thursday when the sixth-seeded Pioneers take the field against third-seeded Newberry College in the first round of the SAC Tournament in Wingate, N.C. First pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m. at the Wingate University softball complex.

- TC -