ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University softball team has been picked to finish 10th in the preseason coaches' ballot, the South Atlantic Conference announced Wednesday (Jan. 24) morning. Three Pioneers were selected to the third team all-conference ticket: Sammy Jimenez, Emily Sappington, and Claire Smeltzer.

Jimenez, a native of Barlett, Illinois, spent the majority of her freshman season as the primary third baseman for the Pioneers, but will be returning to her listed position of catcher in year two. Appearing in all 49 games for TU, Jimenez recorded 51 hits on a .367 batting average, notching six doubles, a team-best six triples, and six home runs. She also contributed 39 RBI, 16 walks, and five sacrifice bunts. Her three-bagger total ranked in the program's top-10 for a single season and put her on pace to take over the career record, set back in the mid 1990s.

Sappington, hailing from Ashburn, Virginia, is a dual threat coming back to Tusculum for one more round. As a lefty pitcher, she appeared in 28 contests (19 starts), going 11-11 with three saves across 116 innings, including 13 complete games. Sappington tallied a 3.20 earned run average with a career-best 8.09 strikeouts per seven innings rate. In total, she struck out 134 opponents and walked 41, all without recording an error in the field. At the plate, Sappington saw action in 37 games with 24 hits on a .312 average. She drove in 17 runners, walked nine times, laid down two sacrifice bunts, and was credited with three sacrifice flies. Sappington's name is scattered throughout the program record, as she owns both the career strikeout and save marks. She also ranks in the top-15 in batting average, on-base percentage, sacrifice flies, ERA, wins, appearances, starts, complete games, shutouts, and innings pitched.

Smeltzer, a Smithfield, Virginia resident, played in 47-of-49 games for Tusculum in her junior campaign. The left fielder led the Pioneers with a .371 average at the plate, collecting 59 hits, 15 doubles, a triple, and the first seven homers of her TU career. She drove in a team-leading 41 runners, alongside 10 free-passes, and went a perfect 6-for-6 in steals. Smeltzer is ranked in the top-15 in program history in career batting average (.326), while her 2023 marks in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, and total bases (97) are all listed on the leader page.

The Pioneers received 47 total points in a vote of the conference's 13 head coaches. Nationally-ranked Wingate took the top spot with 143 points, including 11 first place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne (129) and Lincoln Memorial (112) were next as the latter Railsplitters collected the final two first place nods. Carson-Newman was picked fourth with 108 tallies, followed by Emory & Henry (99), and Anderson (84). Catawba and Newberry were tied at seventh with 82 points, ahead of Limestone (53), and Tusculum. Rounding out the poll were Coker (37), Mars Hill (19), and UVA Wise (19).

Going into her 12th year as the Pioneer head coach, Julie Huebner has the 300-win milestone in sight. Sitting at 267 victories, the second-winningest mentor in program history has a roster built of 11 returners, six transfers, and four freshmen.

The Pioneers start the 2024 season at the USC Beaufort Tournament (Feb. 2-3), joined by Erskine and the hosting Sand Sharks in a two-day round robin. Tusculum's home opener is soon after, a doubleheader with Concord on February 6.

The South Atlantic Conference Tournament has been revamped for 2024, replicating the NCAA Division II Regional format. The event will be played over two weekends (Apr. 26-28, May 3-4). The top eight seeds shall qualify for the postseason event. Hosts for the first weekend are the two highest seeds in a double-elimination layout, with the victors advancing to a best-of-three series the next week.

2024 Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

2024 Softball Preseason All-Conference
All-SAC First Team
OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate 
OF – Cassidy Wall, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Kaylan Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B – Santana Anderson, Limestone
2B – Savanna Brooks, Wingate
SS – Katelyn Rackard, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Ragan Liles, Wingate 
DP – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
UTL/Non-P – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman
UTL/P - Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
C – Raelynn Kramer, Wingate 
P – Raechel Cutcher, Wingate 
P – Olivia Chestnut, Newberry

All-SAC Second Team
OF – Mackenzie Williams, Emory & Henry
OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial
OF – Ariana Fair, Coker
1B – Lora Beth Wood, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne 
SS – Heaven Maness, Wingate
3B – Sterre den Duijn, Lincoln Memorial
DP – Mackenzie Turner, Newberry
UTL/Non-P – Katie Wilbur, Limestone
UTL/P - Riley Tucker, Catawba
C – Mackenzie Turner, Newberry
P – Alexandra Baquie, Catawba
P – Emma Frost, Carson-Newman

All-SAC Third Team
OF – Leah Evans, Newberry
OF – Claire Smeltzer, Tusculum
OF – Maddie Carpenter, Anderson
1B – Sierra Brogdon, Newberry
2B – Abigail Street, Emory & Henry
SS – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
3B – Hailey Hill, Newberry
DP – Katie Tuggle, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/Non-P – Hannah Stevens, Wingate
UTL/P - Carson Hobbs, Anderson
C – Sammy Jimenez, Tusculum
P – Sydney Kale, Wingate
P – Emily Sappington, Tusculum