GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team is scheduled bring two teams into Red Edmonds Field over the course of the week, looking to extend its seven-game hot streak. Future conference opponent Limestone will square off with the Pioneers on Wednesday and Carson-Newman will serve as the SAC-opener on Saturday.

Tusculum intended to open league play at UVa-Wise on Tuesday, but the contests have been postponed. The doubleheader at Emmanuel has also been delayed.

The Pioneers have started off their home schedule 6-0, tying the sixth-best opening mark in recorded history for games played in Greeneville. Since joining Division II and moving to its current location on campus, it is the fourth-best start.

RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum played just one doubleheader during the week, sweeping Southern Wesleyan in a pair of thrillers, 2-0 and 3-2. The Black and Orange have continued to improve on the best record in program history, now sitting at 12-2.

Alexis Grampp drove in two of the five runs for the Pioneers, including a homer and the game-winning hit in the nightcap. The senior averaged .500 at the plate, along with a 1.000 slugging mark, and a .571 on-base percentage. Chloe Freischmidt, coming off of her national player of the week honor, batted .400 on the day and scored two runs. The two Tusculum pitchers (Ivee Richesin and Delilah Malczewski) combined for 11 strikeouts, nine hits, three walks, and only one earned run through 14 innings of action. Malczewski has yet to walk a batter in four appearances (16.1 innings) as a Pioneer. Richesin also picked up her fifth win of the young season in game one, while Malczewski collected her first save as a Pioneer.

LOOKING AHEAD
Limestone (8-10) holds the slight advantage in the series history with Tusculum at 25-24 since the teams began playing in 1993. Jordan Howe leads the Saints at the plate with a .361 batting average, collecting 13 hits, five RBI, two homers, and a pair of walks. She is also slugging .556 and an on-base percentage of .410. In the circle, Caroline Ruth has seen the most action with 52.2 innings pitched in eight appearance, earning a 4-4 record. She has allowed 51 hits, 25 earned runs, 19 walks, and struck out 37 batters.

Carson-Newman (11-3) and Tusculum have one of the most storied series, dating back to 1991. Shannon Smith and KaraLynne Levi are off to terrific starts to the season, appearing in all 14 games and averaging .489 and .488 at the plate, respectively. Smith has 22 hits (with nine for extra bases), 19 runs score, 16 RBI, and nine walks. Levi has collected 20 hits (with nine for extra bases as well), 19 RBI, nine runs, and a pair of walks. The pitching staff is led by Lacie Rinus, with nine appearances. With a record of 6-1, she has pitched in 38.2 innings with 24 strikeouts, 13 earned runs, and six walks.

Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.