GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball team kicks off its 2025 campaign with back-to-back home doubleheaders. The Pioneers are set to host Bluefield State on Sunday (Feb. 2) and Tuesday (Feb. 4) against Lees-McRae.

Going into her 13th year as head coach, Julie Huebner has the 300-win milestone within her grasp. Currently at 297 victories, the second-winningest mentor in program history has a roster built of 15 returners, five freshmen, and three transfers.

After its opening weekend at Red Edmonds Field, Tusculum hits the road for a tournament and six-straight away doubleheaders. South Atlantic Conference action begins on March 4 against Coker in Greeneville.

The SAC Tournament will remain the same in 2025, replicating the NCAA Division II Regional format. The event will be played over two weekends (Apr. 25-27, May 2-3). 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 following week.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Pioneers begin their season with a pair of home doubleheaders: Bluefield State (Feb. 2) and Lees-McRae (Feb. 4). Huebner has the chance to go for 300 in front of the home crowd, needing just three victories to reach the milestone.

TU won the inaugural meetings over the Big Blue back in 2023 in dominant fashion, run-ruling the West Virginia team in both games. Last season, Bluefield State went 13-24 overall and 8-8 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

Tusculum has owned the series over the Bobcats with a 32-12 record dating back to 1997. LMC is coming off of an 18-23 (13-11 Conference Carolinas) mark, which saw them fall in the opening round of their conference tournament.

STREAMING
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through www.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
For the 45th team in recorded history, the Pioneers have 23 players rostered. Picked to finish sixth in the league, Tusculum had one returner named to the SAC preseason second team: Danielle Jason.

INFIELD
The Pioneers have seven infielders listed on the roster, with six having at least one year of college ball under their belt.

Ellie Alvarez was a third team all-conference pick at shortstop after her first year at Tusculum. Transferring from Bellarmine, the sophomore was only one of two Pioneers to see action in all 52 games. The Plano, Illinois native recorded 60 hits (tied for 10th in a TU season), 39 runs, 11 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs (6th in TU history), 29 runs batted in, 10 walks, and 13 steals. Alvarez finished with a .392 batting average, a .439 on-base percentage, and slugged a team-high .654 (10th in TU history). She was also hit by five pitches with three sacrifice flies (6th in TU history), and laid down four sacrifice bunts. Defensively, Alvarez is credited with 84 putouts and 66 assists for a .943 fielding percentage, while aiding in nine double plays. Additionally, she broke the single-game hit by pitch record (3) and tied the single-game steals mark (4) as a part of her 100 total bases, just the 10th to ever reach triple digits in program history.

Alyssa Barbrick played in 49 games over her first season at Tusculum, splitting time between the corners. The Byron Center, Michigan native and East Georgia State transfer was used primarily defensively with limited plate appearances. She recorded 15 hits, six runs, four doubles, eight RBI, 10 walks, and three steals. As a junior, she averaged .227 with a .350 OBP and .288 slugging percentage, while adding three hit by pitches, one sacrifice fly, and four sacrifice bunts. In the field, Barbrick had the second-most putouts (181) with 14 assists, aiding in a team-best 11 double plays.

Faith Gibbs saw limited action as a rookie, pinch-hitting in four contests. In those four at-bats, the Collierville, Tennessee native recorded two hits, one run, one homer, and two RBI. Gibbs hit a two-run homer in her second career outing.

Riley Hope played in 27 games during her second season in Greeneville. Primarily used as a pinch runner or at first base, the Chuckey, Tennessee native recorded five hits, nine runs, one double, one home run, four RBI, two walks, and one steal. As a junior, Hope had a perfect fielding percentage in 44 changes while aiding in three double plays.

Gabi Nicholson played in 51 games as a junior transfer from the State College of Florida. The Ashland City, Tennessee native spent time at third base and catcher, tallying 46 hits, 22 runs, nine doubles, 10 home runs (tied for fourth in TU single season), 38 RBI, and 12 walks. Nicholson averaged .303 with a .343 OBP and a .559 slugging percentage while adding five sacrifice flies (ties the TU single-season record) and three sacrifice bunts. In the field, she was credited with 85 putouts and 59 assists for a .941 fielding percentage. Nicholson also took part in five double plays and threw out two runners. Nicholson tied for seventh all-time with nine total bases versus Catawba. For her career at Tusculum, she is tied for ninth with five sacrifice flies.

Brooke Smith spent her freshman season as Tusculum's primary second baseman, playing in 50 games overall. The Acworth, Georgia native finished with 63 hits (9th in TU history), team-high 41 runs, four doubles, three triples, two homers, 25 RBI, six walks, and 13 steals. Smith averaged .396 with a .451 OBP and slugged .497. She was hit by 10 pitches (3rd in TU history) and a team-leading six sacrifice bunts. Smith was credited with 63 putouts and 45 assists for a .947 fielding percentage while aiding in six double plays.

Hailey Nichols (Knoxville, Tenn.) is the lone newcomer in the infield. The Farragut High School graduate played four seasons for the Admirals, ranking fifth in career home runs (22), ninth in career total bases (235), and 10th in career RBI (106). She racked up honors such as all-district, All-5StarPreps second team, Rookie of the Year, and Silver Slugger. Nichols was a part of four district, three region, and two state championship teams. She also played for Knoxville Explosion Select in the club realm.

OUTFIELD
The grass will be patrolled by a combination of at least four Pioneers including Abby Hunter, Kylie Darrow, Caylen Conrad, and MacKenzy Angle.

Hunter returns for her sophomore season after being the primary centerfielder in her rookie year. Playing in 50 games, the Clemmons, North Carolina native recorded 37 hits, 31 runs, eight doubles, three triples, one home run, 13 RBI, six walks, and 17 steals. She averaged .316 with a .350 OBP and a .462 slugging percentage, adding four sacrifice bunts. Defensively, Hunter was credited with 58 putouts and one outfield assist for a .967 fielding clip while aiding in one double play. She also tied the single-game steals record with four in the last month of the season.

Darrow was mainly used in a pinch-running role as a sophomore. The Jackson, Missouri resident also had 14 at-bats in which she collected two hits, 10 runs, one RBI, one walk, and two steals.

Conrad will be making the switch to the outfield for her senior season. The Berea, Kentucky native played in 26 games over her first year at TU after transferring from Volunteer State Community College. Conrad was used mostly as a runner but did have some reps in the infield. She recorded four hits, one double, six runs, one steal, and hit by one pitch in 16 at-bats. In the field, she was credited with 23 putouts and three assists, also aiding in a double play.

Angle, a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, transferred to Tusculum from Louisburg College. She attended the North Carolina junior college for two seasons, where she played in 61 games. Angle recorded 24 runs, 14 hits, two triples, two home runs, 19 RBI, 11 walks, 20 steals, one hit by pitch, and one sacrifice bunt in 65 plate appearances. Defensively, she had 30 chances in the field with 16 putouts and 12 assists to her credit.

CATCHER
Coach Huebner has three catchers to choose from, including a pair of TU veterans.

Sammy Jimenez has made her mark in just two seasons at Tusculum. The Bartlett, Illinois native is already third all-time in slugging percentage (.611), fifth in home runs (20), and 10th in on-base percentage (.401) across her 100-game career. As a sophomore, she recorded 37 hits, 35 runs, five doubles, 14 home runs (TU single-season record), 43 RBI, 25 walks (5th in TU history), and one steal. Jimenez averaged .262 with a .369 OBP and .596 slugging percentage, adding two sacrifice flies and five sacrifice bunts. Defensively, she finished with a team-high 280 putouts and 27 assists for a .968 fielding percentage, primarily as the catcher but did see some action at third base. Jimenez aided in four double plays and threw out five runners.

Madison Watts is the longest tenured of the catchers as she heads into her senior season. The Corryton, Tennessee native played in 17 games last year, recording five hits, one double, one triple, one run, and one RBI in 21 at-bats. Watts had a perfect fielding percentage in 17 chances (16 putouts, one assist). She also took part in a double play and caught a runner stealing.

The lone newcomer backstop is Emma Golden. The freshman hails from Tracy, California and is a graduate of her hometown high school. She lettered two seasons on the diamond, winning back-to-back league championships. Golden was a state runner-up and defensive player of the year as a senior. She averaged .270 with 24 hits and 25 RBI over her last season. Golden also played for All-American Sports Academy, claiming two bronze finishes at Colorado Sparkler. She finished with a .391 batting average with 25 hits and 15 RBI in 2024.

UTILITY
Four Pioneers have the ability to rotate between any position in the Tusculum lineup, ranging from experience in the infield, outfield, designated player, and the pitching circle.

Danielle Jason was voted to the preseason second team on the all-conference ballot as designated player. In her first season at TU as a graduate transfer, the Olyphant, Pennsylvania native played in 49 games, spending time between the outfield and as DP. Jason recorded 57 hits, 40 runs, four doubles, two triples, and an inside-the-park home run. She added 13 RBI, 16 walks, and a team-best 24 steals, which is tied for fifth most in a TU season. Jason averaged a team-leading .416 at the plate with a .484 on-base percentage (6th in TU history), and slugged .496. Jason rounded out her stats with two hit by pitches and five sacrifice bunts to go along with 21 putouts and one outfield assist.

Ella Majchrzak was the 2024 state player of the year for Chapin (S.C.) High School and 2023 region player of the year. The freshman is rostered as a pitcher/utility. Majchrzak earned all-state honors twice as a part of three district championships. She averaged .330 in her final three seasons, including .406 as a senior. Majchrzak also played for Carolina Cardinals in the club realm.

Addison Hoffner is listed as a catcher/outfielder on the roster, hailing from Lexington, South Carolina. She played four seasons at Lexington High School and was a two-time 5A state runner-up. Hoffner was named most improved as a senior, averaged .389 at the plate with a .476 OBP and a .556 slugging rate. She played for Mojo of the Carolinas after her final high school season, averaging .355 with a .394 OBP, and a .581 slugging percentage.

Katie Jones (Greenback, Tenn.) was a two-sport athlete at Greenback High School in softball and basketball. As a captain on the diamond, she was named all-district and all-county four times and thrice to the all-tournament team. Jones was named the team MVP as a junior and won the district as a freshman. She also played for TN Mojo and finished in the top-eight at the National Alliance Tournament.

PITCHERS
Huebner's team will have a new look in the circle as the majority of the innings from last season graduated. TU returns Makayla Bush, Natalie Spaitis, and Nyah Vogel, while bringing in a pair of transfers to add experience including Megan Ackerman and Dani Beckham.

Bush, a senior from Columbia, South Carolina, enters her fourth season as a Pioneer. She played in 24 games last year, seeing time as a pitcher, infielder, and pinch runner/batter. Bush recorded seven hits, six runs, three doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, two walks, and a steal. She averaged .259 with a .300 OBP and slugged .704, adding a sacrifice fly. Bush was perfect in six chances in the field (four putouts, two assists). Across three appearances in the circle, she tossed two innings with four earned runs and five walks.

Spaitis had a remarkable freshman season and already ranks third with four career saves. The Schaumburg, Illinois native recorded one run and two walks. In 27 games, Spaitis made four starts, going 5-2 with a 4.91 ERA (second-lowest on the team). She tossed 77 innings and one complete game and 65 strikeouts. Defensively, Spaitis was credited with seven putouts and six assists with two double plays.

Vogel made her way to Tusculum as a junior transfer from Lee University. The Apopka, Florida native played in just 12 games with two starts in her first season in Greeneville. Vogel went 2-0 across 19 innings with 10 walks and 12 strikeouts. She also had two at-bats with one sacrifice bunt and one assist in the field.

The lone left-handed pitcher on the roster, Ackerman is a graduate transfer from Maryville College, where she competed for three seasons. The Gray, Tennessee native finished with a 48-26 mark with a 1.86 ERA through 466.1 frames. Ackerman notched 301 strikeouts with 15 shutouts and 54 complete games. She recorded five runs, one double, nine RBI, and four walks. Ackerman was named to the NFCA all-region third team and earned region all-tournament honors. She earned three all-conference laurels in addition to two conference all-tournament team recognitions and conference tournament most outstanding player.

Beckham is a Division I transfer from Iona where she played for two seasons. The Valdosta, Georgia native made 19 appearances with six starts. Beckham tossed 37.2 innings with 12 strikeouts and eight walks. She was a two-time region pitcher of the year at Lowndes High School in the Peach State.