NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- For the first time in her career, Emily Sappington has been named Pitcher of the Week by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

On the week, the senior went 3-0 in her starts over then-No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne, Young Harris, and Newberry. Across the 20 innings, Sappington struck out 20 on a 1.75 earned-run average, including tossing a one-hitter in the run-rule shutout over the Mountain Lions. To aid the cause, she batted .400 with two RBI and a run scored.

On the season, Sappington has a career-best record of 13-5 and three saves. She also needs just two strikeouts to surpass her previous high of 173, recently tallying over 600 throughout her four seasons. The left-hander has the second-lowest ERA of her time with a 2.33, allowing only 43 earned runs across 129.1 innings of work. At the plate, Sappington is maintaining a .333 average with 15 hits, including two for extra bases, alongside eight runs batted in and eight walks.

Tusculum (29-20, 15-9 SAC) faces nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday (Apr. 26) in the opening round of the SAC Championship. First pitch from Wingate, North Carolina is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.