Wednesday, May 2, 2007

TUSCULUM LISTED IN NCAA BASEBALL STATISTICS

INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College baseball team continues to be listed in this week's NCAA Division II statistics announced College officials Wednesday.

The Pioneers (48-12) are listed in eight team categories, while eight TC players are mentioned individually.

Tusculum is second in the country averaging 0.68 triples per game. LeMoyne-Owen is first averaging 0.71 per contest. TC has established a new school and South Atlantic Conference record with 41 triples this year.

Tusculum's pitching staff sports the fourth-best team earned run average in the nation. TC hurlers are posting a 2.68 ERA, which is on pace to break a school single-season mark. TC has also established a new school mark with 135 stolen bases, averaging 2.25 per game, which is 13^th in the country.

TC pitchers are striking out 8.3 batters per nine innings pitch, which is the 10^th best ratio in the land. Tusculum is also 12^th in won-lost percentage (48-12, .800), 33^rd in scoring (8.0 rpg), 26^th in batting average (.339) and 50^th in slugging percentage (.480).

Individually, SAC Player of the Year Maikol Gonzalez (Maraca Ibo, Venezuela) is listed in three categories, including triples per game, which he leads the nation. The All-SAC First Team second baseman has posted a TC and SAC record 14 triples this year (0.26 tpg). The 14 triples are just two shy of a NCAA II best. Gonzalez is also 17^th in batting average (.446) and 41^st in runs batted in per game (1.17).

Junior outfielder Carlos Rivera (Leesburg, Va.) is 18^th in the nation in triples per game. The All-SAC First Team honoree has tallied eight triples this year, which are the second most in school history behind Gonzalez.

All-Conference catcher Christian Rosa (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) is 44^th in the country in walks per game where he is averaging 0.72 per contest.

Senior Kevin Hammons, the 2007 SAC Pitcher of the Year, is mentioned four times in this week's report. The Jonesborough, Tenn. southpaw is 12^th in the country in victories with his 9-1 record. Hammons, an All-SAC selection, is 26^th in net strikeouts (77), 30^th in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (9.7) and 41^st in ERA (2.27).

All-SAC First Team hurler C.J. Hillyer (Abington, Mass.) and Newport, Tenn. junior Raymond Ruggles are tied for 36^th with eight pitching wins. Hillyer has posted an 8-1 record, while Ruggles has accounted for an 8-3 worksheet.

Two-time All-SAC pitcher Mat Galens (Louisville, Ky.) is 45^th in the country with five saves this year.

Tusculum, ranked No. 12 in Division II, is awaiting word of a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The official announcement will be made by the NCAA on May 13.

- NCAA -