ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team has been picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches' poll, the South Atlantic Conference announced Wednesday (Jan. 26) morning. Four Pioneers were selected to the second team for their work last season: Anna Alloway, Chloe Freischmidt, Mya Maddox, and Emily Sappington.

Alloway, a native of in-state Louisville, started all 42 games for TU in 2021, primarily in right field. She led the Pioneers in batting average (.381), on-base percentage (.406), hits (59), and total bases (90). Alloway had 17 multi-hit games and seven with more than one runner batted in. She registered a hit in 30 games, a run in 20, and at least one RBI in 18. The right-hander collected SAC All-Conference honorable mention, SAC All-Tournament Team, and an all-region honor from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). Alloway ranks in the top-10 across eight career categories in the program record book.

In the classroom, Alloway earned numerous honors, including SAC Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year, Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award, and CoSIDA Academic All-America second team. She graduated from Tusculum last month and is enrolled in the education graduate program.

Hailing from Naples, Florida, Freischmidt was the starting catcher in all 40 games in which she played. Also named to the SAC All-Tournament Team, the now-senior was second on the Pioneers with 34 RBI and eight home runs. Additionally, she was third in batting average (.307), hits (39), slugging percentage (.551), total bases (70), and extra-base hits (15). The chemistry/computer science major threw out five runners attempting to steal. In the program record book, Freischmidt is seventh in career slugging percentage (.559), tied 10th in home runs (12), and tied for 11th in fielding percentage (.979) behind the plate.

Maddox, from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was a fixture in center field, earning all 42 starts in the middle outfield. A slapper in the batter's box and known for her speed, she stole 19 bases, notched a pair of triples, and laid down eight sacrifice bunts. Maddox was tied for the second-most walks on the team (12), racked up the third-most runs (27), and added the fourth-most hits (37). She also tied the program record with four runs scored in a game in the SAC quarterfinal upset over Catawba. Maddox was perfect in the field in 70 total chances. The senior psychology major is credited with 67 putouts and three assists.

A resident of Ashburn, Virginia, Sappington was the Pioneers' ace in 2021, highlighted by a pair of no-hitters and consensus all-region selections. In addition, she earned SAC Tournament most valuable player, SAC All-Tournament Team, and SAC Pitcher of the Week on the field and Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and D2 ADA academic honors in the classroom. Sappington started 21 games, tossed four shutouts, 15 complete games, and struck out 139 batters across 141 innings on a 2.38 earned-run average. The left-hander compiled a 12-9 record with two saves during her sophomore campaign.

A dual-threat both at the plate and in the circle, she was second-best for TU in batting average (.333), OBP (.402), and walks (12). Sappington also contributed 36 hits, seven doubles, 25 RBI, and a pair of homers.

The Pioneers received 94 total points in a vote of the conference's 13 head coaches. Nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial is the favorite to go back-to-back as the regular season champions. The Railsplitters tallied 153 points and nine first place votes. Anderson garnered the remaining four first place nods and 145 total points. Lenoir-Rhyne (122), Carson-Newman (119), and Wingate (111) were picked ahead of TU. Catawba and Newberry are tied for seventh with 82 points, followed by UVA Wise and Limestone with an identical 68 ticks. Coker (49), Mars Hill (43), and Queens (34) round out the poll.

Tusculum returns 17 student-athletes from last year's squad that made history in its 23-19 (13-11) campaign. TU won its first SAC Tournament championship, earning a berth to its inaugural NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. The eight additions will aid in the repeat effort.

The Pioneers will open the season at USC Aiken on February 5 in an afternoon doubleheader. Tusculum's first home series is set for the following week (Feb. 11) versus Concord.

The 2022 SAC Softball Championship will be hosted by Lincoln Memorial at the Dorothy Neely Softball Complex. The eight-team, single-elimination tournament will be held Apr. 29-30 in Harrogate, Tennessee.

 
2022 Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

2022 Softball Preseason All-Conference
All-SAC First Team
OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman
OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial
1B – Kayson Boatner, Anderson
2B – Katie Wilbur, Limestone
SS – Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial
3B – Heaven Maness, Wingate
DP – McKenna Falwell, UVA Wise
UTL/Non-P – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
UTL/P - Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
C – McKenzie Henry, Lincoln Memorial
P – Emma Frost, Lincoln Memorial
P – Harlie Duncan, Anderson 

All-SAC Second Team
OF – Kelsi Scott, Coker
OF – Anna Alloway, Tusculum
OF – Mya Maddox, Tusculum
1B – Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial
2B – Sarah Barrett, UVA Wise
SS – Leah Sohm, Carson-Newman
3B – Hannah Towery, Newberry
DP – Hailey Hill, Newberry
UTL/Non-P – Ashley Parnell, Limestone
UTL/P - Emily Sappington, Tusculum
C – Chloe Freischmidt, Tusculum
P – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Alexandrea Sullivan, Newberry