GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team earned its second-straight South Atlantic Conference tournament berth and will face nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne in the quarterfinals on Friday (Apr. 29) at 4 p.m., hosted by Lincoln Memorial. The No. 7 seed Pioneers are seeking back-to-back SAC championships for the first time in program history.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (27-20) finished in a tie for sixth in the SAC standings after finishing the final week of the regular season 4-2, including 3-1 in conference action. Anna Alloway, Emily Sappington, and Mya Maddox collected all-conference accolades for their performance over the season.
Maddox batted .429 across five games with six hits, four runs scored, three walks, and three steals. Sappington hit in four games on a .417 average, notching five hits with two doubles and a walk. Alyssa Suits stepped up and had four singles, three runs, and two sacrifice bunts. Hayley Lazo finished with five hits, but also reached base seven times the hard way, recording five walks and was hit twice.
Ireland Cavanaugh has hit her stride in the month of April. She went 3-0 during the week, including two complete games, across 18 innings. She allowed just two earned runs for a 0.78 earned-run average with two walks and 17 strikeouts. Only one of the 17 hits allowed went for extra bases. Sappington picked up the remaining win, a complete game shutout of UVA Wise.
As a team, Tusculum is ranked across the top-50 nationally in sacrifice flies (31st; 15), hit by pitch (33rd; 34), doubles (35th; 74), fielding percentage (39th; .968), stolen bases (41st; 80), and sacrifice bunts (42nd; 33).
Individually, Emily Sappington ranks second nationally in complete games (21), 26th in strikeouts (165), and 31st in starts (23). Maddox is ninth in stolen bases (36), 11th in steals per game (0.78), and 50th in hit by pitches (9). Lazo is 20th in hit by pitches (12) and 35th in per game average (0.27). Her HBP total ties the season record at Tusculum.
LOOKING AHEAD
Lenoir-Rhyne (36-13) has been ranked 23rd in Division II for the second-straight week, according to the NFCA. The Bears had three named SAC first team all-conference in today's announcement, out of seven total honored. LR collected a major award winner in Freshman of the Year Cassidy Wall. Starting every game in her first season, she hit .359 with 56 hits, a team-high 16 doubles, eight homers, team-high 48 RBI, and drew 12 walks. First team pitcher Lauren Rakes has an ERA of 2.10 alongside a 19-3 record. In 32 appearances, she has 21 starts, 17 complete games, and five saves across 173.2 innings. Rakes has raked in the strikeouts, accumulating 276 this season, which is tied-most atop the Division II totals.
TICKETS
Lincoln Memorial has announced that tickets will be available at the gate with a cash-only entrance. Each wristband is on a per-day basis. Price levels are $10 (adults), $5 (youth under 12, seniors 60+, active or retired military), and $4 (college students with ID).
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
