Thursday, April 24, 2008

MAIKOL GONZALEZ LEADS NATION IN HITS, PIONEERS LISTED IN NCAA BASEBALL STATISTICS

INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum’s Maikol Gonzalez leads the nation in hits according to this week’s NCAA Division II baseball statistics. Gonzalez, a senior second baseman from Venezuela, is listed in 13 individual categories, while the Pioneers are ranked in 19 team statistics.

Gonzalez has accounted for 94 hits in his 50 starts, which is currently second all-time in both Tusculum and South Atlantic Conference history. The two-time All-SAC First Team standout is also fifth in the nation in batting average (.477), 10^th in runs scored (65), 19^th in doubles (19), 14^th in triples (6), 16^th in total bases (140), 20^th in on-base percentage (.531) and 17^th in stolen bases (27). The 27 stolen bases are also second all-time in TC history, two shy of the record held by teammate Christian Rosa, who accounted for 29 in 2007.

Rosa, a senior catcher/outfielder from Puerto Rico, is 10^th in runs scored (65), 46^th in hits (73), 14^th in triples (6) and 32^nd in total bases (129). Carlos Rivera, a two-time All-Conference outfielder from Leesburg, Va., is 14^th in runs scored (64), 19^th in hits (79), seventh in triples (7) and 44^th in total bases (125).

All-SAC First Team pitcher Boo Morrow (Lexington, Ky.) is ranked in two categories, including 14^th in earned run average (1.58) and 39^th in victories (7). Morrow is currently 7-0 and his ERA is currently the lowest in school history.

Senior Raymond Ruggles (Newport, Tenn.), is mentioned three times in this week’s statistics, including 16^th in ERA (1.62), 33^rd in hits allowed per nine innings (6.84) and 34^th in walks allowed per nine innings (1.62).

Tusculum leads the nation in team triples (31) and is second in triples per game (0.62 tpg). TC is also ninth nationally in earned run average (3.27), 10^th in sacrifice flies (30), 16^th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.59), 18^th in won-lost percentage (38-12, .760), 19^th in bases on balls (214), 22^nd in doubles plays turned (43), 21^st in hits (552), 24^th in runs scored (402), 31^st in stolen bases (84), 38^th in scoring (8.0), 43^rd in doubles (95), 43^rd in slugging percentage (.489), 45^th in double plays turned per game (0.86), 47^th in strikeouts per nine innings (7.4), 49^th in batting average (.327), 49^th in home runs (39) and 50^th in stolen bases per game (1.68 spg).

The Pioneers (38-12) have won their last six games, including four in a row to win the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Hickory, N.C. Tusculum is ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division II and second in the South Region. By winning the SAC Tournament, Tusculum has earned the league’s automatic berth to next month’s NCAA Tournament. TC will be making its second straight NCAA postseason appearance and fourth in the last six years.

- NCAA -