Monday, June 11, 2007

TUSCULUM, GONZALEZ NAMED NCAA STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS

INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum College and Maikol Gonzalez were declared NCAA Division II National Statistical Champions for triples per game with the release of the final 2007 baseball statistics announced College officials.

Gonzalez, a junior second baseman from Maracaibo, Venezuela, averaged 0.25 triples per game. The 2007 South Atlantic Conference and South Region Player of the Year established a new school and league single-season record with 14 triples. His triple tally was just two shy of matching the all-time record of 16.

Tusculum claimed its first NCAA national statistical title, averaging 0.64 triples per contest. TC finished with 41 triples while tallying a new TC and SAC single-season mark.

The Pioneers were also listed in five other categories, including team earned run average. Tusculum pitchers established a new school record with its 2.73 ERA, which was third in the nation. The 2007 ERA was also the third lowest in conference history.

Tusculum was also 10^th in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (8.2), 11^th in won-lost percentage (.781), 12^th in stolen bases per game (2.22) and 33^rd in scoring (7.8).

Individually, Gonzalez finished the season ranked in the top 50 in three individual categories. Besides holding the top spot in triples, the All-American infielder finished seventh with his .444 batting average and 38^th in runs batted in per game (1.14).

All-American outfielder Carlos Rivera (Leesburg, Va.) was 21^st in the country in triples per game (0.13). Rivera also established a new TC and SAC record with his 101 hits this year.

Junior catcher Christian Rosa (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) was listed in twice in the final statistical summary. The All-American junior was 39^th in the land in walks per game (0.72) and 43^rd in stolen bases per game (0.45).

All-American southpaw pitcher Kevin Hammons (Jonesborough, Tenn.) was mentioned twice in the NCAA statistical report. The SAC and South Region Pitcher of the Year finished 28^th in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (9.6) and 32^nd in victories (9.0).

All-Region pitcher C.J. Hillyer (Abington, Mass.) was tied for 38^th with Hammons with nine wins, while senior Ben Swaggerty (Knoxville, Tenn.) was 35^th with his six saves on the mound. Hammons was drafted by the Florida Marlins, while Swaggerty inked with the Kansas City Royals.

In 2007, Tusculum broke or tied 45 team and individual records, including seven South Atlantic Conference marks. The Pioneers finished 2007 with an impressive 50-14 record and finished third at the NCAA South Regional. The Pioneers' 50 victories are the most in school and conference history. Tusculum captured its third straight league championship, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of eight colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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