ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum University outfielder Anna Alloway has been named the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year announced league officials Monday.
Alloway becomes the first Tusculum softball player to garner SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year accolades since TU joined the conference in 1998.
The South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
Alloway, a senior from Louisville, Tennessee has a 3.99 cumulative grade point average while majoring in elementary education. She earned her undergraduate degree this past Saturday.
She was a recipient of the Lettie Pate-Wyatt Scholarship, the Theresa Bailey-Mclntyre Memorial Scholarship, was named to an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete. She was also a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List, President's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
On the field, she was a tabbed the South Atlantic Conference AstroTurf Player of the Week in both her junior and senior campaigns and served as TU's team captain for the past two seasons.
"Anna is the true definition of a student-athlete. Her academic and athletic success is the culmination of her hard work, dedication and preparation to her studies and craft during her time at Tusculum," said TU head coach Julie Huebner. "Anna has been an integral part to Tusculum Softball over the last four years, she has been unwavering in her commitment to our program, displayed high character and continues to lead by example on and off the field. I am so proud of all she has accomplished athletically but more importantly academically. She will be a great role model and mentor to the students she teaches and coaches in the future."
In her 39 games this season, she leads the league with her 57 total hits while her .396 batting average is tops on the team and 11th in the conference. The 2021 All-SAC honorable mention selection also leads the team with 10 doubles (11th in SAC), while her seven home runs (17th in SAC) and 28 RBI (21st in SAC) ranks her third on the roster. The Pioneers finished the season with a four-game winning streak including 3-0 to capture the program its first SAC Tournament title. She earned SAC All-Tournament accolades as she went 6-of-12 with seven RBI, four runs scored, and two home runs. She drove in both runs in Tusculum's 2-1 semifinal victory over Anderson. She also homered twice in the championship game in TU's 8-0 upset victory over top-seed Lincoln Memorial.
During her 149-game career, she has accumulated 171 hits including 38 doubles (9th in TU history) and 25 home runs (2nd in TU history) with 105 RBI (8th in TU history). Her .362 career batting average is ranked sixth in program history, while her .606 slugging percentage is third in the TU record book. Her 286 career total bases are also eighth in school history.
Alloway participated in many leadership and service opportunities in her time at Tusculum, most notably for all four years the Make-A-Wish Foundation Fundraising, the Kappa Delta Honor Society, Nettie Day of Service and Tusculum University Donors Dinner. She also helped with food distribution to underprivileged kids, high school softball summer camps and the United Methodist Church Louisville Christian Center Food Bank Event.
Tusculum (22-17) is currently ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region and have punched their ticket for the NCAA postseason. The Southeast Regional will be held in Dahlonega, Georgia May 19-21. The Pioneers will learn who they will be playing this Sunday night (May 16) at 10 p.m. when the championship bracket is revealed.
