Baseball, softball players of the week named by TSWA

March 26, 2019 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s Scott, Fellows honored with TSWA weekly accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Stephen Scott and Drake Fellows were named the Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 18-24.

Scott batted .571 (8-for-14) with two home runs, six RBIs and nine runs scored in four victories for the Commodores. The Cary, N.C., native posted two hits with a double, a solo homer, a walk and three runs scored in a 3-0 win over Belmont. He drove in a run when he was hit with the bases loaded in Thursday’s 5-0 victory against Florida.

The senior outfielder was 4-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored in the second game versus the Gators and collected two hits with a double and a grand slam, scoring three times in the series finale. Scott is batting .391 with 10 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 24 games this season.

Fellows tossed a five-hit shutout against Florida in the series opener, allowing three walks with eight strikeouts in a 5-0 win. The Plainfield, Ill., native posted just one 1-2-3 inning in the contest, working around an error and a walk in the fourth inning and at least one baserunner in every frame but the seventh.

The junior righthander improved to 5-0 with a 3.68 ERA in six appearances this season covering 36.2 innings, giving up 29 hits with 48 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .216 against him.

2019 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 19 – Lake Burris, Bryan College (Player); Trey Holland, University of the South (Pitcher)
March 1 – JJ Bleday, Vanderbilt (Player); Peyton Wigginton, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 6 – Aaron Antonini, Middle Tennessee (Player); Chase Douglas, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
March 13 – Ethan Paul, Vanderbilt (Player); Samuel Joiner, Maryville College (Pitcher)
March 21 – Javier Lopez, Trevecca University (Player); Charles Hall, Tusculum University (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Tennessee Wesleyan’s Sutton, King’s Gilbert selected for TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Wesleyan’s Baylee Sutton and King University’s Casey Gilbert received Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 18-24.

Sutton batted .588 (10-for-17) with three home runs, 13 RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Bulldogs. The Crandall, Ga., native collected three hits with a run scored and four RBIs in the first game of a doubleheader against Reinhardt University and added two hits with a run scored in the second contest versus the Eagles.

The senior infielder homered among her three hits and drove in five runs in the first game of a twinbill at Montreat College. She hit two home runs and drove in four runs in the second contest against the Cavaliers.

Sutton is batting .492 with four doubles, four homers, 30 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 18 games this season.

Gilbert posted four victories in the circle in five appearances for the Tornado, allowing just one earned runs on 17 hits with 15 strikeouts.

The Hendersonville, N.C., native worked six shutout innings, giving up five hits with five strikeouts versus Mars Hill University. The junior tossed three shutout frames in relief for a win in a 4-3 victory against UVA-Wise, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. She gave up one earned run on one hit in one-third of an inning in the second game versus the Cavaliers.

The righthander pitched seven shutout innings in a win at Barton College, giving up five hits with five strikeouts, and ended the week with a four-hit shutout at the University of Mount Olive, striking out two. She walked just four batters in her 23.1 innings over the five appearances as well.

Gilbert posts a 6-3 mark with a 1.17 ERA in 13 appearances covering 59.2 innings this season. She has allowed 49 hits with nine walks and 33 strikeouts, with opponents batting just .217 against her.

2019 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 19 – Abby Fiessinger, Carson-Newman (Player); Brooklin Lee, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 1 – Kay Brokering, King University (Player); Morgan Rackel, Austin Peay (Pitcher)
March 6 – Danielle Liermann, Austin Peay (Player); Alyssa Arden, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
March 13 – MaKray Odom, Trevecca University (Player); Katlyn Smith, Maryville College (Pitcher)
March 21 – Kaitlyn Kelley, Union University (Player); Morgan Rackel, Austin Peay (Pitcher)

TSWA recognizes college players of the week

March 21, 2019 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Tusculum’s Hall, Trevecca’s Lopez recognized with TSWA weekly accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Javier Lopez and Tusculum University’s Charles Hall were named the Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 11-17.

Lopez batted .588 (10-for-17) in four games against Malone University, recording four doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and nine runs scored. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native posted two hits with a double, a homer and two RBIs in the opener and was 3-for-3 with a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored in the second game of the doubleheader.

The senior netted three more hits with a double and two runs scored in the third game of the series and finished with weekend with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. Lopez is batting .388 this season with five doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 18 games.

Hall broke the NCAA Division II single-game record for strikeouts, fanning 22 batters in a complete-game victory against Queens University. The Dumfries, Va., native struck out every Royals batter at least once, including eight of the nine Queens' hitters at least two times each.

The senior righthander recorded two strikeouts in every inning and fanned the side four times, including the first, second, fifth and sixth innings. Sixteen of the strikeouts were swinging while six were looking.

Hall leads the nation with his 88 strikeouts this season and has posted 10 or more batters in six consecutive starts. He broke the national mark previously held by five other pitchers, with the most recent coming on April 1, 1999, when Nate Kosoc of Saint Rose fanned 21 batters against NJIT. Hall's 22-strikeout effort is ranked seventh for all NCAA Divisions.

He surpassed the Tusculum single-game record of 17 strikeouts posted by Placido Torres, who achieved the feat against Stillman University. Hall also bested the South Atlantic Conference record of 19 established by former Wingate University hurler Danny Lampley, who did it twice in the 1998 season.

SOFTBALL: Union’s Kelly, Austin Peay’s Rackel selected for TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Kaitlyn Kelley and Austin Peay’s Morgan Rackel received Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 11-17.

Kelley batted .500 (8-for-16) in five outings with two doubles, one home run, five runs scored and 10 RBIs for the Bulldogs. The Lexington, Tenn., native drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first game of a doubleheader against Illinois-Springfield and collected a double, a homer, two runs scored and six RBIs in the second game versus UIS, hitting a walk-off grand slam versus the Prairie Stars.

The freshman infielder recorded two hits with two walks, scoring once and driving in a run in the first game of a series against Montevallo and was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the second contest versus the Falcons.

Kelley is batting .453 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBIs and 35 runs scored in 31 games this season.

Rackel tallied a 3-0 record with a 0.67 ERA with three complete-game victories for the Govs. The senior allowed one run on three hits with 10 strikeouts in a 4-1 victory against Miami University, with APSU scoring a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

The Calgary, Alberta, native tossed a five-hit shutout in a 5-0 win versus Dayton, her fourth shutout of the season, gave up five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts against the Flyers. She followed that with seven innings in a 5-2 victory versus Michigan State, allowing one earned run on five hits. She walked three and struck out six.

Rackel improved to 11-5 with a 1.15 ERA in 17 appearances in 102.2 innings, striking out 114.

Baseball, softball Players of the Week announced by TSWA

March 13, 2019 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s Paul, Maryville’s Joiner recognized with TSWA weekly accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Ethan Paul and Maryville College’s Samuel Joiner were named the Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 4-10.

Paul batted .389 (7-for-18) with four runs scored and 13 RBIs in five games for the Commodores. The Bellevue, Wash., native started the week with three hits and two runs scored along with five RBIs against Davidson, including a bases-clearing double and a two-run double.

The senior followed that with a 2-for-4 effort versus East Tennessee State with a run-scoring single and a two-run single. Paul posted a single and a sacrifice fly in the first of a three-game series against Illinois State and added another sac fly and an RBI groundout in the second game versus the Redbirds. He finished the series with a two-run homer.

He is batting .415 with six doubles, two homers, 22 RBIs and 11 runs scored through 17 contests this season.

Joiner posted a win and two saves, all in relief, for the Scots. The Sandersville, Ga., native picked up saves in both ends of a doubleheader versus Wittenberg University, posting a walk and a strikeout in a 6-4 victory in the first game and striking out two in one full inning of work in the second contest.

The senior righthander tossed 2.2 innings of relief in an 11-inning victory against Brevard College. He did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out two to post the victory. Joiner improved to 1-0 with three saves in 12.1 innings over nine appearances this season, giving up just three hits with five walks and 17 strikeouts.

SOFTBALL: Trevecca’s Odom, Maryville’s Smith selected for TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s MaKray Odom and Maryville College’s Katlyn Smith received Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 4-10.

Odom batted .586 (13-for-22) with eight runs scored, nine stolen bases and two RBIs in six games for the Trojans. The Dickson, Tenn., native posted two hits with a run versus Gannon University and collected a two-run single and a stolen bases against Seton Hill.

The junior singled, walked, stole a base and scored a run against The College of Saint Rose and was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases versus Franklin Pierce. She finished the weekend with two more three-hit games, adding a walk, a run and one stolen base against Concordia University [MN] and stealing four bases with two runs scored versus Stonehill College.

Odom is batting .621 with two doubles, six RBIs and 26 runs scored in 17 games this season.

Smith posted two complete-game victories, allowing two runs on 10 hits with 18 strikeouts for the Scots. The Loganville, Ga., native struck out 14 and gave up one run on three hits in a 3-1 win against seventh-ranked Berry College. The sophomore righthander then allowed one run on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks in a 2-1 victory versus Emory University.

Smith improved to 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA in 34.0 innings this season, giving up 26 hits with 13 walks and 39 strikeouts.

TSWA announces weekly award winners

March 6, 2019 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Donaldson earns as TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Donovan Donaldson earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades, averaging 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two victories for the Pioneers.

The Nashville, Tenn., native netted 27 points with four boards and five assists in a two-point victory over Lincoln Memorial, ending a 24-game losing streak to the Railsplitters. He connected on 10-of-20 shots overall with three 3-pointers and hit 4-for-6 at the foul line in the victory.

The senior guard followed that with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in a win against Wingate University, making 9-of-14 field goals with four 3-pointers. It marked the first season sweep for Tusculum over the Bulldogs since 2010 and helped the Pioneers claim the No. 4 seed in this week’s South Atlantic Conference Championships.

Donaldson averages 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season.

2018-19 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 13 – Tyree Boykin, Union University
November 20 – Grant Teichmann, Carson-Newman
November 27 – Grant Williams, Tennessee
December 4 – Chris Porter-Bunton, Austin Peay
December 11 – Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
December 18 – Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
December 24 – Kyvon Davenport, Memphis
December 31 – Jordan Bone, Tennessee
January 9 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
January 16 – Grant Teichmann, Carson-Newman
January 23 – Donovan Donaldson, Tusculum University
January 29 – Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb
February 7 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
February 14 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
February 19 – Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
March 1 – Jeremiah Martin, Memphis

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: UT Martin’s Robertson garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UT Martin’s Emayne Robertson posted Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, registering 26.0 points, 7.0 assists and 4.0 steals in two victories for the Skyhawks.

The Memphis, Tenn., native recorded 24 points with four boards, six assists and four steals in an overtime win against Belmont, netting the game-winning points and then blocking Belmont’s final shot attempt in a 71-68 triumph. She made 9-of-18 shots with a pair of 3-pointers and played all 45 minutes for UTM.

The senior guard posted 28 points with eight assists and four steals on Senior Day against Tennessee State, connecting on 8-of-14 field goals and hitting 12-for-13 at the foul line. Robertson averages 12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game this season.

2018-19 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 13 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
November 20 – Kayla Marosites, Carson-Newman
November 27 – Rennia Davis, Tennessee
December 4 – Klaire Varney, Maryville College
December 11 – Evina Westbrook, Tennessee
December 18 – Kori West, King University
December 24 – Jenny Roy, Belmont
December 31 – Ellie Harmeyer, Belmont
January 9 – Klaire Varney, Maryville College
January 16 – Britton Boyer, Trevecca University
January 23 – Kayla Marosites, Carson-Newman
January 29 – Morgan Martin, Union University
February 7 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman
February 14 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman
February 19 – Morgan Martin, Union University
March 1 – Darby Maggard, Belmont

BASEBALL: Middle Tennessee’s Antonini, Trevecca’s Douglas recognized with TSWA weekly accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee’s Aaron Antonini and Trevecca University’s Chase Douglas were named the Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 25-March 3.

Antonini batted .500 (11-for-22) with three doubles, one home run, eight RBIs and five runs scored in five games for the Blue Raiders. The Hollywood, Fla., native posted three hits with a solo homer, an RBI double and a two-run double against Tennessee Tech. He also scored three times versus the Golden Eagles.

The junior catcher netted eight hits in three games versus Memphis, including an RBI single and a run-scoring double in the 10th inning in a 2-1 win Friday against the Tigers. He collected three hits and scored twice in the second game of the series and recorded a pair of run-scoring singles in the series finale.

Antonini is batting .395 with three doubles, eight RBIs and seven runs scored in 11 contests this season.

Douglas tossed 9.0 innings over two outings for the Trojans, striking out 10 while allowing just seven hits and two earned runs. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native worked 5.0 innings of relief against Ashland University, giving up one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

The junior righthander picked up a win in relief versus 13th-ranked Southern Indiana, allowing one earned run on four hits in 4.0 innings. He walked three and struck out six, as the Trojans scored twice in the bottom of the ninth for the victory.

Douglas improved to 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA over four appearances and 15.2 innings, giving up 12 hits with 16 strikeouts.

SOFTBALL: Austin Peay’s Liermann, Tennessee Tech’s Arden selected for TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay’s Danielle Liermann and Tennessee Tech’s Alyssa Arden received Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 25-March 3.

Liermann batted .591 (13-for-22) with seven home runs, 14 RBIs and eight runs scored in six games for the Govs. The Simi Valley, Calif., native started the week with a 3-for-4 performance against Middle Tennessee, hitting a solo homer and a two-run shot along with an RBI single, as APSU scored six times in the seventh inning for a 10-6 victory.

The senior infielder posted three hits, all two-run homers, for six RBIs in a win against Radford and was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run versus Coastal Carolina. Liermann collected two more hits with a double and a run scored against Jacksonville and ended the week with a 3-for-3 effort and another two-run homer in the second meeting with Radford.

She is batting .375 with two doubles, eight home runs, 20 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 20 games for APSU.

Arden tossed a pair of complete games, giving up one unearned run while striking out 14, including a no-hitter, in two outings for the Golden Eagles. The Goodlettsville, Tenn., native struck out nine and walked two in the no-hitter against Alabama A&M, though the Bulldogs plated an unearned run on a walk, an error and a sacrifice fly in the 2-1 TTU victory.

The freshman righthander walked two, struck out five and allowed just four hits in a complete-game shutout versus Western Illinois. She improved to 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA in seven appearances over 41.1 innings, posting 33 strikeouts.

Weekly winners recognized by TSWA

March 1, 2019 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Memphis’ Martin earns as TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis guard Jeremiah Martin earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades, registering 40.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals in two games for the Tigers.

The Memphis, Tenn., native netted 43 points against Tulane, an American Athletic Conference record, hitting 15-of-24 shots overall with five 3-pointers. The senior added 8-for-11 at the foul line and recorded eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals in the victory.

He followed that with 37 points at Wichita State, connecting on 9-of-19 field goals with five more 3-pointers. He also made all 14 free throws and collected three boards, two assists and two steals in the win over the Shockers. It marked his sixth and seventh 30-plus point games of the season. He has averaged 30.7 points during the month of February.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Maggard garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Darby Maggard posted Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, averaging 23.5 points and 4.5 assists in two wins for the Bruins.

The Larwill, Ind., native posted 25 points with seven 3-pointers against Eastern Illinois, adding seven assists. The senior guard collected 22 points with four more triples and 9-of-14 shooting overall versus SIU-Edwardsville. Maggard eclipsed 400 career 3-pointers against Eastern Illinois, becoming just the fifth player in Division I history to reach the 400 mark.

She is averaging 17.1 points and 4.3 assists per game this season for Belmont.

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s Bleday, Middle Tennessee’s Wigginton recognized with TSWA weekly accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s JJ Bleday and Middle Tennessee’s Peyton Wigginton were named the Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association for their efforts in contests from February 18-24.

Bleday reached base 10 times in three games for the Commodores, going 5-for-9 with five walks and a pair of RBIs. The Panama City Beach, Fla., native singled, walked and scored a run in a 5-4 win against Evansville during the midweek.

The junior outfielder doubled, walked three times and scored a run in the first game of a doubleheader versus Pepperdine and posted two singles and two RBIs in the second contest against the Waves. He is batting .429 with nine RBIs and eight runs scored through eight games.

Wigginton tossed a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory against Bradley. The Franklin, Tenn., native allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out a career-high 12 batters. The sophomore lefthander retired the first 11 batters of the game before giving up a single with two outs in the fourth and got out of trouble in the eighth after giving up a walk and a single, preserving the victory.

He is 1-0 this season with a 0.68 ERA in 13.1 innings of work with 19 strikeouts and just eight hits allowed.

2019 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 19 – Lake Burris, Bryan College (Player); Trey Holland, University of the South (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: King’s Brokering, Austin Peay’s Rackel selected for TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Kay Brokering and Austin Peay’s Morgan Rackel received Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, from the Tennessee Sportswriters Association for their efforts in contests from February 18-24.

Brokering batted .538 (7-for-13) with four extra-base hits, six RBIs and four runs scored in four games for the Tornado. The Shelbyville, Ind., native posted two hits with a triple, two walks and two runs scored in first of two games versus Queens University and added two hits with a double and two RBIs in the second contest against the Royals.

The senior was 3-for-5 with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBIs in the second game versus Davis & Elkins. She is batting .579 with four doubles, nine RBIs and seven runs scored in six games this season.

Rackel tossed 23.0 innings in a pair of games, giving up just one run with 25 strikeouts. The Calgary, Alberta, native posted a four-hit shutout (all singles) in the first of three games against McNeese State, striking out nine with three walks. No McNeese runner got past second base in the 4-0 victory.

The senior outlasted the Cowboys in the final game of the series, a 2-1, 16-inning affair. Rackel struck out 16 while scattering 13 hits, throwing 217 total pitches (154 strikes). She allowed a run in the second inning and then none the rest of the way, getting the final 45 outs while giving up 10 hits in the final 14 inning, only one for extra bases.

Rackel improved to 6-3 with a 2.68 ERA over nine appearances and 60.0 innings of work, allowing 59 hits with 66 strikeouts.

2019 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 19 – Abby Fiessinger, Carson-Newman (Player); Brooklin Lee, Belmont (Pitcher)