College players of the week named by TSWA - March 16

March 16, 2021 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s Thomas, Rocker named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Isaiah Thomas and Kumar Rocker earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from March 8-14.

Thomas batted .412 (7-for-17) with two doubles, three home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Commodores.

The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native posted two hits with an RBI double and a stolen base in a midweek contest against Memphis. The junior was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in the first game of a doubleheader at Oklahoma State and belted his second homer of the season with a three-run shot in the second contest versus the Cowboys, adding two runs scored.

Thomas finished the weekend 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs in the series finale, including another homer. He is batting .314 with four doubles, four home runs, 10 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 14 games this year.

Rocker tossed 8.0 shutout innings, a season-long appearance, allowing just two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in a 5-0 victory at Oklahoma State.

The Athens, Ga., native faced just three batters over the minimum in his eight frames of work, retiring the side in order five times as well as 18 of the final 20 batters he faced. He induced 12 ground ball outs and only one baserunner got as far as second base.

Rocker upped his mark to 4-0 this season and has yet to allow an earned run (one unearned run over four appearances and 23.0 innings), giving up just eight hits with eight walks and 34 strikeouts. Opponents are batting only .108 against the righthander this year.

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 – Fuzzy Furr, Tusculum University (Player); Elijah Pleasants, Tennessee (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Carson-Newman’s Smith, King’s Counts garner TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Shannon Smith and King University’s Nikole Counts earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, for games from March 8-14.

Smith batted .556 (5-for-9) in two games for the Eagles against Limestone University with five runs scored and nine RBIs.

The Channahon, Ill., native collected two hits and drove in four runs with one run scored in the first game of the doubleheader, posting a pair of two-run singles. In the second contest the sophomore was 3-for-5 with four runs scored and five RBIs, including an RBI single and a three-run homer.

Smith is batting .389 with five doubles, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored in 14 outings this season.

Counts registered a 1-1 mark with a 1.08 ERA over 13.0 innings in two outings, allowing just nine hits and two earned runs.

The Clintwood, Va., native tossed seven innings at Emmanuel College, scattering six hits and giving up two unearned runs with one walk and four strikeouts in a 4-2 victory. She retired the side in order just once, working around nine baserunners in the contest.

The sophomore righthander allowed two earned runs on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts in a 3-0 loss at Erskine College. The Flying Fleet scored all three runs in the first three batters of the game before Counts retired 18 of the next 22 batters.

She has posted a 5-2 mark with a 1.04 ERA this season in eight appearances over 47.0 innings, giving up 35 hits with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .198 against Counts.

2021 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Katie Eakes, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)
March 10 – Carly Turner, King University (Player); Raygn Hall, Trevecca University (Pitcher)

TSWA honors college players of the week - March 10

March 10, 2021 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Bush earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s EJ Bush was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in earning tournament MVP honors for the Eagles.

The Oak Ridge, Tenn., native netted 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting with four boards, two assists and four steals versus Wingate University in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The senior followed that with 23 points (11-of-18 field goals), five rebounds and three assists at Tusculum University.

Bush collected 15 points and four boards in the championship game at Queens University, earning MVP honors and helping Carson-Newman win its first SAC Tournament title since 2015. The Eagles extended their winning streak to 11 games and ended a 13-game losing stretch to Queens as well.

Bush averages 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21 games this season for the Eagles.

2020-21 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
December 9 – Tavon King, Cumberland University
December 15 – Luke Smith, Belmont
December 22 – Devin Whitfield, Lincoln Memorial
January 5 – Ben Sheppard, Belmont
January 12 – Kavon Blankenship, Bryan College
January 19 – Ren Dyer, Carson-Newman
January 26 – Tripp Davis, Carson-Newman
February 2 – Kevin Chong, Maryville College
February 9 – Luke Brenegan, Carson-Newman
February 16 – Hunter Vick, Union University
February 23 – Tripp Davis, Carson-Newman
March 2 – Trenton Gibson, Tusculum University

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Sutton garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Maddie Sutton was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, recording 23.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in three games to earn tournament MVP honors for the Pioneers.

The Walland, Tenn., native collected 20 points and 18 boards against Newberry College, making all 12 attempts at the foul line in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. She registered 22 points, 10 caroms and five assists versus Catawba College, hitting 8-of-15 shots overall with a pair of 3-pointers.

In the championship game Sutton posted 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists against Lincoln Memorial, connecting on 9-of-17 field goals and 8-for-9 at the foul line. It marked the second straight conference tournament title for the Pioneers.

Sutton averages 17.3 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 21 outings this year for Tusculum.

2020-21 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
December 9 – Allissa Mulaski, Bryan College
December 15 – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
December 22 – Eboni Williams, Chattanooga
January 5 – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
January 5 – Chelsey Perry, UT Martin
January 19 – Chelsey Perry, UT Martin
January 26 – Lindsay Taylor, Carson-Newman
February 2 – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
February 9 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
February 16 – Maddie Sutton, Tusculum University
February 23 – Maddie Sutton, Tusculum University
March 2 – Destinee Wells, Belmont

BASEBALL: Tusculum’s Furr, Tennessee’s Pleasants named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Fuzzy Furr and Tennessee’s Elijah Pleasants earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from March 1-7.

Furr belted three home runs with nine RBIs and five runs scored in his only two outings of the week. He did not play the final two contests of the week because of injury.

The Marietta, Ga., native was 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer, two runs scored and four RBIs in the first game of a doubleheader against Mars Hill University. The senior collected a pair of hits with three runs scored in the second contest versus the Lions, including two-run and three-run homers.

Furr is batting .400 (6-for-15) with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored in six games this season for the Pioneers.

Pleasants tossed 8.1 shutout innings over two relief appearances against Austin Peay and Georgia State, picking up the win in both games, allowing just four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

The Clarksville, Tenn., native worked the final six innings at APSU for the win, giving up three hits with a career-best six strikeouts. The junior right-hander retired the side in order just once, working around a pair of errors and a hit better. The Vols scored five times in the fifth inning to erase an early deficit in the 5-3 victory.

Pleasants pitched 2.1 shutout frames against Georgia State, allowing one hit with three strikeouts. He got the final out of the fourth and gave up a single in the fifth and hit a batter in the sixth. He improved to 2-1 in 15.1 innings over four appearances this season, giving up two walks with 11 strikeouts.

SOFTBALL: King’s Turner, Trevecca’s Hall garner TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Carly Turner and Trevecca University’s Raygn Hall earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, for games from March 1-7.

Turner batted .727 (8-for-11) with five doubles, 10 RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Tornado.

The Springfield, Ohio, native posted two hits with a two-run homer, a walk and a run scored in the first of two games versus Lees-McRae. She was 1-for-3 with a run in the second contest of the doubleheader.

The junior doubled, drove in two runs and scored another in the first outing of a twinbill against West Virginia State. In the second contest Turner was 4-for-4 with two RBI doubles and a pair of two-run doubles as well, driving in six and scoring twice in the sweep.

She is batting .552 (16-for-29) with six doubles, three homers, 14 RBIs and eight runs scored in 10 games for King this season.

Hall collected three victories and tossed a pair of shutouts over three appearances for Trevecca, giving up just two earned runs with 13 strikeouts in 18.2 innings.

The Kingston, Tenn., native worked six shutout frames against Union University, allowing five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The senior righthander then worked five scoreless innings versus Purdue Northwest, giving up four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Hall ended the week scattering 10 hits in 7.2 innings against Grand Valley State, allowing two earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts in a 4-3, eight-inning victory for TNU. She is 4-4 in eight appearances covering 38.0 innings this season, striking out 28.

2021 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Katie Eakes, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)

College players of the week recognized by TSWA - March 2

March 2, 2021 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Gibson earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Trenton Gibson was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, posting 17 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the Pioneers regular season finale.

The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native connected on 6-of-15 shots overall with one 3-pointer and was 4-for-4 at the foul line in the victory over Lenoir-Rhyne, pushing Tusculum’s winning streak to six games and securing the No. 2 seed in this week’s conference tournament.

Gibson leads the Pioneers in scoring (18.7), rebounding (7.9), assists (4.8) and steals (1.5). He is the only player in the South Atlantic Conference ranked in the Top 5 in scoring, rebounding and assists and also ranks eighth in steals in the league.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Wells garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Destinee Wells was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 19.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three wins for the Bruins.

The Lakeland, Tenn., native netted 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers and hit all five free throws, adding three boards and four assists in the second of back-to-back victories over Tennessee Tech.

The freshman guard posted 25 points at Eastern Kentucky, connecting on 8-of-15 field goals with two more triples and 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. She grabbed four rebounds and handed out six assists as well.

Wells finished the week with 15 points and four assists at Morehead State, making 6-of-9 shots and all three free throws. She is registering 16.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 20 games this season for Belmont.

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s Keegan, Belmont’s South named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Dominic Keegan and Belmont’s Joshua South earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from February 22-28.

Keegan batted .667 (10-for-15) with four doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, eight runs scored and six walks in five games for the Commodores.

The Metheun, Mass., native posted three hits with two doubles and a home run versus Western Kentucky and he collected two hits with a double in the first of four games against Georgia State.

The junior belted a two-run homer among two hits in the second game of the series. Keegan was 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in the opener of Sunday’s doubleheader versus the Panthers and recorded a double and a grand slam along with two runs scored in the second contest.

He is batting .571 with five doubles, three homers and 13 RBIs in seven contests this year.

Smith tossed seven innings in two games for the Bruins, allowing no earned runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts.

The Cookeville, Tenn., native worked two scoreless frames against North Alabama, giving up two hits with no walks and five strikeouts in a limited-inning start because of rainouts the previous weekend.

The sophomore righthander then pitching five innings in a start versus Creighton, limiting the Bluejays to one unearned run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)

TSWA announces college players of the week - Feb. 23

February 23, 2021 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Davis earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Tripp Davis was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 25.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 steals in three games for the Eagles.

The Nashville, Tenn., native posted 44 points, third-most in single-game school history, against Benedict College, connecting on 12-of-19 shots from the field with two 3-pointers and making 18-for-19 at the foul line. He added six boards and four steals in the win.

The senior guard collected 22 points in the second of two consecutive outings versus Mars Hill, hitting 9-of-11 field goals. Davis grabbed six boards and tied the single-game school record with seven steals in the contest as well.

Davis is registering 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game in 18 contests this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Sutton repeats as TSWA Player of the Week winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Maddie Sutton was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, registering. 24.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists with two double-doubles in two victories for the Pioneers.

The Walland, Tenn., native netted 15 points with 16 rebounds and five assists at Lincoln Memorial, helping Tusculum overcome a 15-point deficit en route to the victory. The senior forward scored a career-best 33 points with 11 boards and five assists against Coker University, hitting 11-of-14 field goals and 11-for-12 at the foul line. The win moved the Pioneers into first place in the Southern Athletic Conference.

Sutton averages 15.6 points and 15.2 rebounds in 17 games this year. She has recorded 11 straight double-doubles and leads Division II with 15 this season.

BASEBALL: Lincoln Memorial’s Keene, Tusculum’s Becker named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lincoln Memorial’s Andrew Keene and Tusculum University’s Gunner Becker earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from February 15-21.

Keene batted .529 (9-for-17) with three home runs, eight RBIs and seven runs scored in five games for the Railsplitters. The Woodstock, Ga., native posted two hits with one RBI and two runs scored versus UVA-Wise and added two hits with a triple, one RBI and a run scored in the first of four games at Anderson University.

He belted two homers with three RBIs in the second game of the series, walking three times and scoring three runs in the 12-3 win. The junior posted a fourth-inning home run, a fifth-inning RBI groundout and a sixth-inning RBI double in a 9-7 series finale victory over the host Trojans.

Becker tossed seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts in the season-opener against the University of Indianapolis.

The senior righthander scattered five hits and walked three. He retired seven straight hitters after a single to start the contest and ran into trouble just once, with the Greyhounds collecting three straight singles in the fifth. He retired the side in order in the sixth and induced an inning-ending doubleplay to finish his work in the seventh.

SOFTBALL: Carson-Newman’s Eakes, King’s Counts garner TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Katie Eakes and King University’s Nikole Counts earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, for games from February 15-21.

Eakes batted .500 (7-for-14) with one homer, seven RBIs and three runs scored in six games for the Eagles. The Mt. Juliet, Tenn., native singled, walked and scored a run in the first of two games against King and recorded a pair of two-run singles in the second contest versus the Tornado.

The senior infielder posted two hits, including a solo homer for the game’s only run, in the second of two outings against Leesz-McRae, and singled and drove in a run in the first of two games versus Tiffin University. She walked three times and added an RBI in the second contest against the Dragons.

Counts posted a pair of complete-game victories for King, striking out 12 over 14 innings.

The Clintwood, Va., native allowed two runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in the season-opener against Carson-Newman, inducing 12 ground ball outs. The sophomore righthander struck out nine while scattering 10 hits and giving up two runs in a 3-2 win versus UVA-Wise.

Vick, Sutton garner TSWA weekly awards - Feb. 16

February 16, 2021 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Union’s Vick earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Hunter Vick was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 26.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in two games for the Bulldogs.

The Camden, Tenn., native netted a career-high 31 points with five boards in the first of two meetings against Delta State, hitting 13-of-19 field goals and 5-for-7 on 3-pointers. The junior guard then recorded 22 points, three rebounds and four assists versus DSU, connecting on 7-of-14 shots overall and 7-for-8 at the foul line.

Vick is posting 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 14 contests this season for Union.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Sutton garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Maddie Sutton was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, registering 22.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in two victories for the Pioneers.

The Walland, Tenn., native scored a career-high 32 points on 10-of-15 from the field and 12-for-14 at the foul line versus Queens University while grabbing 16 boards and handing out four assists. The senior forward netting 13 points with 13 rebounds and four assists at Mars Hill.

Sutton averages 14.5 points per game while leading the Southern Athletic Conference and ranking second nationally with 15.5 boards per contest. She has recorded nine consecutive double-doubles and leads Division II with 13 double-doubles in 15 games this season.