LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- The Tusculum University softball team accounted for the ninth-best team grade point average across NCAA Division II, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Easton Top-10 list.

Tusculum posted an impressive 3.72 team GPA during the 2023-24 academic year while 17 Pioneers earned NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete distinction. NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes must achieve a 3.5 or better GPA during the academic year only.

Garnering NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors are: Ellie Alvarez (Plano, Ill.), Alyssa Barbrick (Byron Center, Mich.), Makayla Bush (Columbia, S.C.), Ireland Cavanaugh (Columbus, Ga.), Caylen Conrad (Berea, Ky.), Kylie Darrow (Jackson, Mo.), Faith Gibbs (Collierville, Tenn.), Danielle Jason (Olyphant, Pa.), Sammy Jimenez (Bartlett, Ill.), Maddie McBride (Mint Hill, N.C.), Keylon Reynolds (Kingston, Tenn.), Emily Sappington (Ashburn, Va.), Claire Smeltzer (Smithfield, Va.), Brooke Smith (Acworth, Ga.), Natalie Spaitis (Schaumburg, Ill.), Nyah Vogel (Apopka, Fla.), and Zoe Wills (Coal City, Ill.).

Five TU student-athletes earned NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors with a perfect 4.0 GPA during the academic year (Alyssa Barbrick, Danielle Jason, Keylon Reynolds, Emily Sappington, Natalie Spaitis), with three on the pitching staff for head coach Julie Huebner.

The Pioneers finished the 2024 campaign with a 30-22 record, its most victories in a decade. TU has collected 20 or more wins in 13-straight full seasons (excluding the shortened COVID year).

NFCA / Easton NCAA Division II Top-10 GPAs