GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team kicks off its latest campaign this upcoming weekend with a road trip to North Carolina. The Pioneers will take part in the updated UNC Pembroke Invitational from Saturday to Monday (Feb. 4-6).
Going into her 11th year as the Pioneer head coach, Julie Huebner has win number 250 within reach. The second-winningest coach in program history will be in search of her second title within the last three seasons.
After its stint at UNCP, Tusculum travels to West Virginia for a doubleheader with Concord (Feb. 8). J.C. Red Edmonds Field will host a round robin with Hillsdale and Lees-McRae the following weekend (Feb. 10-11). The Pioneers begin their South Atlantic Conference schedule in March on the road against Emory & Henry (Mar. 1) and Lenoir-Rhyne (Mar. 4) before bringing Lincoln Memorial to Greeneville on March 8.
Starting in 2023, the South Atlantic Conference Tournament takes on a new format. The event will be played over two weekends (Apr. 28-30, May 3-4). The top four teams from each division at the end of the regular season shall qualify for the tournament and will be seeded according to the final regular season standings. The host sites for the first weekend will be the two highest seeds or division winners in a single-elimination layout, with the victors advancing to a best-of-three series.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Pioneers will begin 2023 at the four-day UNC Pembroke Invitational (Feb. 3-6), joined by the likes of West Virginia State, Kutztown, and the hosting Braves. The three teams squared off in last season's edition of the event but will be joined by Tusculum in this weekend's go-round.
The Yellow Jackets went 22-25 in 2022, ending its campaign on day two of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. The last meeting in the series between TU and WVSU came in 2007, giving Tusculum the 3-2 edge all-time.
Both meetings between Tusculum and Kutztown have been decided by a 2-0 score, with each team recording a win (KU in 2011, TU in 2014). The Golden Bears finished with a stellar 40-15 mark, advancing all the way to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regionals, including 10-1 in neutral site contests.
Tusculum last met with UNCP back in 2011, also at the invitational in North Carolina. The Braves have won the previous two clashes, with TU's most recent win coming in 2007. UNC Pembroke went 27-17 overall last season before falling in the Conference Carolinas quarterfinals, the Braves' first season in the league. In six all-time face-offs, the series between UNCP and the Pioneers is tied at three-all.
STREAMING
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
By following this link (flosports.tv/sac), SAC fans can sign up for an annual subscription to FloSports at a reduced rate. Also, anyone who subscribes to the video service using a SAC member or associate member institution domain (.edu) e-mail address will be eligible for an even greater discount.
MEET THE TEAM
Huebner will rely on 15 returners and four newcomers in 2023.
INFIELD
The Pioneers have six infielders listed on the roster, five of which have collegiate experience.
Katelynn Hodges of Blairsville, Georgia is going into year five as a collegiate athlete. She started 43 games as a middle infielder in her first season at Tusculum. Hodges began the year at second before shifting over to shortstop. The Young Harris transfer totaled 29 hits (seven for extra bases), 22 runs scored, 21 runs batted in, 11 walks, and eight stolen bases. She also was hit by three pitches, adding four sacrifice bunts, and three sacrifice flies. Hodges averaged a .947 fielding percentage with 46 putouts and 61 assists, while aiding in a double play. The mathematics education (6-12) student earned the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award.
Riley Hope (Chuckey, Tenn.) transfers home after spending her freshman season at Carolina University. The first baseman started in 38 games for the Bruins, while batting .237 with a .310 OBP, and .368 slugging average. Hope finished with 27 hits (12 doubles), 24 runs scored, one home run, 19 RBI, six steals, and 11 walks across 114 at-bats. The business major collected 45 putouts with 61 assists, taking part in two double plays.
Hannah Hughes played in 47-of-48 games in the Pioneer infield, splitting time between second base and shortstop. In 115 at-bats, the in-state Baxter product totaled 29 hits (10 for extra bases), 13 runs, 15 RBI, five walks, and four sacrifice bunts. In her fourth collegiate year (second at TU), Hughes was credited with 69 putouts and 72 assists, while aiding in seven double plays. The business administration major earned both the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award and the Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors.
Hayley Lazo is the Tusculum career leader in fielding percentage at .992. The Port Orange, Florida native is also third all-time in hit by pitches and 13th in putouts. Lazo played in 46 games as the Pioneer first baseman, totaling 33 hits (nine for extra bases), 21 runs, 20 RBI, nine walks, and her first steal. She tied the program-record for hit by pitches in a season with 12. Lazo averaged .287 at the plate with a .394 on-base percentage and slugged .391. The senior finished last season with 264 putouts and 11 assists on 277 chances, a .993 fielding rate. As a political science major, Lazo added both D2 ADA and Easton/NFCA scholar honors.
Zoe Wills (Coal City, Ill.) pinch hit in her lone appearance in 2022. The junior sport science major was named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.
The lone freshman on the dirt is Italia Kyle.
The Maryville, Tennessee native graduated from Alcoa, lettering four seasons in the sport. Kyle was listed twice on the all-tournament team, while collecting all-district, county, and state honors in 2021. She also added 5 Star All-Prep Team to her resume the same year. Kyle was a part of two district and region championships, alongside a state title in 2022. The nursing student won the CTE Health Science Award as well.
OUTFIELD
The grass will be patrolled by four Pioneers, led by preseason all-conference pick Kallyn Newport.
A native of in-state Seymour, Newport played in 41 games as TU's left fielder. In 115 at-bats as a junior, she totaled 35 hits (six for extra bases), 28 runs, 21 runs batted in, 11 walks, and eight stolen bases, all on a .257 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, and slugged .327. Additionally, Newport laid down three sacrifice bunts, knocked a sacrifice fly, and was hit by a pitch. In the field, she collected 67 putouts and four assists in 72 chances for a .986 fielding average. The elementary education major earned the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award and Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors.
Kylie Darrow (Jackson, Mo.) graduated from her hometown high school in 2022 after lettering four seasons on the diamond. The slapper was a three-time first team all-conference, district, and region selection. Darrow also won two conference titles, adding Offensive Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Athlete awards. At Jackson Senior, she holds the triples and runs scored career records, along with the single-season hits mark. The elementary education student was named first team academic all-state every year for her classroom performance.
Maddie McBride (Mint Hill, N.C.) played in six games last season, recording a walk in one of her two pinch hit appearances. The junior entered as a pinch runner in the remaining four contests. Enrolled in the independent study program, McBride earned D2 ADA and Easton/NFCA academic laurels.
Claire Smeltzer played in 35 games as a sophomore, with 23 starts between outfield and designated player. The Smithfield, Virginia native notched 19 hits (five doubles), five runs, nine RBI, and 11 walks drawn. Smeltzer averaged .247 with a .341 OBP and .312 slugging percentage. In the field, she was credited with 20 putouts. The nursing major joins her teammates on the D2 ADA and Easton/NFCA scholar lists.
CATCHER
Huebner has depth behind the plate, highlighted by Chloe Freischmidt's second-straight preseason nod. Freischmidt is joined by Madison Watts, alongside a pair of backstops in the utility section (Hailey Berglof and Sammy Jimenez).
Freischmidt, the reigning team MVP, returns for her fifth season as the Pioneer backstop. The Naples, Florida native has her name scattered throughout the program records, including hit by pitch (t-6th), fielding percentage (t-7th), putouts (8th), home runs (9th), and slugging percentage (11th). In 2022, Freischmidt appeared in 46-of-48 games behind the plate. She collected 37 hits (third-most on the team), 25 runs, team-best 14 doubles, three homers, 29 RBI (second-most), 12 walks, and one steal across 130 at-bats. The triple major averaged .285 with a .365 OBP and .462 slugging percentage. Freischmidt did not hit into a double play as the TU catcher, while recording 273 putouts and 22 assists in 299 chances for a .987 fielding rate.
Watts (Corryton, Tenn.) played in two games as a freshman, grounding out in her only at-bat. The sport science major also recorded a putout from behind the plate.
UTILITY
Four Pioneers will rotate among various positions in the Tusculum lineup, with the capability of starting in both the infield and outfield, along with the designated player.
Hailey Berglof has been the primary bullpen catcher for the last two seasons, but the senior has added a new role, designated player. The nearby Maryville native has pinch hit twice in her career, both resulting in a RBI base knock. The English education (6-12) student is a two-time D2 ADA academic honoree as well.
Makayla Bush (Columbia, S.C.) saw action as a pinch runner, second baseman, and pitcher across 29 games in her freshman season at Tusculum. She is credited with six at-bats, eight runs scored, one walk, and six steals. The biology/pre-med major finished with 13 putouts and three assists in 17 chances in the field.
Sammy Jimenez (Bartlett, Ill.) is listed as both a catcher and utility on the TU roster. The freshman graduated from South Elgin High School last spring after lettering in softball, sideline cheer, and competitive cheer. Jimenez was the 2021 conference Player of the Year and team MVP with a career batting average of .489. She was named all-conference three times and won a combined six league championships in her sports. The elementary education major had five years of high honor roll with eight academic all-conference honors between softball and cheer. Jimenez also earned a Commendation toward the Seal of Biliteracy.
Alyssa Suits saw action in 31 games as a freshman in 2022. The Jonesborough native did most of her work as the designated player before taking over as the starting third baseman in late March. Suits totaled 14 hits, 10 runs, seven RBI, three walks, six steals, and three sacrifice bunts. Defensively, the special education major is credited with 11 putouts and 26 assists for a .949 fielding percentage, while also aiding in a double play from the hot corner.
PITCHERS
Huebner returns the core of her staff in 2023, headlined by preseason honoree, Emily Sappington. In numerical terms, the trio (Sappington, Ireland Cavanaugh, and Keylon Reynolds) accounted for 98.6% of innings pitched for Tusculum in 2022.
Sappington, hailing from Ashburn, Virginia, has already had one of the most successful careers for a Tusculum pitcher after just two seasons. The lefty is only the second in recorded history to toss multiple no-hitters and needs 61 strikeouts to overtake the career lead. Additionally, she is tied for second in saves, third in shutouts, ninth in complete games, 10th in earned-run average, and 12th in innings pitched. Sappington appeared in 28 contests with 24 starts, including going the distance 22 times. She finished with an 11-12 mark with one save across 160.2 frames, totaling 50 earned runs, 173 strikeouts (TU single-season record), and 53 walks on a 2.18 ERA. As a dual threat, Sappington stepped into the box 59 times, notching 20 hits, three runs, seven RBI, and 12 walks on a .339 batting average, .444 OBP, and .441 slugging rate. She increased the Pioneer single-game strikeout record to 14, while also contributing five shutouts. The elementary education major was also on the D2 ADA and Easton/NFCA scholar lists.
Cavanaugh was the game two pitcher for the majority of her first season in Greeneville. The Columbus, Georgia native saw action in 22 games with 18 starts in the circle and nine complete games. She finished with a team-high 13 wins alongside five losses and a save. Cavanaugh tossed 108.2 frames with 49 earned runs, 78 strikeouts, and 25 walks on a 3.16 ERA. The chemistry student also upped her collegiate-best to eight strikeouts twice.
Reynolds has primarily been used in a relief role during her career. In 2022, the in-state Kingston product appeared in 14 contests with five starts, including one complete game. As a sophomore, Reynolds went 3-1 with a save across 41.1 innings, allowing 31 earned runs to 35 strikeouts and 20 walks for a 5.93 ERA. The biology/pre-med student is stellar in the classroom, racking up honors from the D2 ADA and Easton/NFCA, as well as the TU Female Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Award.
