DAHLONEGA, Ga. --- The Tusculum University softball team begins its NCAA run this week (May 8-10) against top-10 North Georgia. The Pioneers have advanced to the Division II postseason for the second time in program history, joining the 2021 squad.
Four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in a double-elimination tournament. The 16 teams advancing from regional competition will then participate in a two-team, best-of-three super regional at eight sites. The finals will include the eight super regional winners. The national champion will be determined in a best-of-three final series.
The No. 7 seeded Pioneers will face the hosting No. 2 seed Nighthawks (42-12). The remaining two teams joining TU and UNG are No. 3 seed Lenoir-Rhyne (36-17) and No. 6 Lincoln Memorial (34-18). The other side of the bracket consists of No. 1 Francis Marion (49-4), No. 4 Wingate (37-21), No. 5 Flagler (32-20), and No. 8 Georgia Southwestern (27-25). Earning the automatic qualifier for their respective conference was Lenoir-Rhyne (SAC), Francis Marion (CC), and Georgia Southwestern (PBC).
RECAPPING THE SEASON
Tusculum (37-17) has the most wins in a season for the program since the 1995 campaign (40).
On the season, Danielle Jason and Brooke Smith rank fifth and sixth all-time in a single campaign in batting average, at .464 and .458, respectively. Jason and Ellie Alvarez are tied with the sixth-most at bats (179), with Smith just behind at 177. Jason (60) and Smith (58) are both within five runs from taking over the record at 62 scores. They are also the first players this millennium to reach the 80-hit mark at 83 and 81, respectively. Sammy Jimenez is four RBI shy of tying the single-season record with Gabi Nicholson trailing by two. For the second-straight year, Alvarez has reached triple digit total bases, which ties her for ninth all-time. With one more walk, Jimenez will be tied for eighth in free-passes with 23. Jason and Smith are neck-and-neck for fourth place in on base percentage, separated by .003 (.518-.515). Abby Hunter is tied for the most sacrifice flies in a season with five as Jimenez is tied for fourth with four. Jason overtook both the single-season and career stolen base records earlier this season, now sitting at 48 and 72, respectively. Smith currently ranks fourth with her 30 this year.
In the pitching categories, Megan Ackerman is tied for second in saves (4), tied fourth in appearances (38), sixth in starts (28), and seventh in strikeouts (126). Natalie Spaitis now holds both the single-season (5) and career (9) saves records.
As a team, the 2025 edition is ranked in the top-5 in 13 different statistical categories: sacrifice flies (1st; 20), stolen bases (1st; 137), on base percentage (1st; .412), batting average (2nd; .351), RBI (2nd; 311), total bases (2nd; 741), hits (3rd; 517), at bats (4th; 1471), slugging percentage (4th; .504), runs (4th; 353), home runs (4th; 35), walks (4th; 140), and triples (5th; 18).
As of the May 4 update, Tusculum is ranked in the top-25 nationally in triple plays (2nd; 1), stolen bases (4th; 137), batting average (7th; 0.351), hits (8th; 517), total runs (14th; 353), on base percentage (16th; 0.412), runs batted in (17th; 311), scoring (18th; 6.54), steals per game (19th; 2.54), RBI per game (20th; 5.76), and slugging percentage (21st; 0.504).
Individually, Jason is in the top-20 in six categories: stolen bases (4th; 48), hits (7th; 83), steals per game (10th; 0.89), batting average (13th; 0.464), runs (13th; 60), and runs per game (19th; 1.11). Smith is 12th in hits (81), 14th in batting average (0.458), and 18th in runs (58). Alvarez is 23rd in stolen base percentage (0.964), while Hunter is 23rd with five sacrifice flies. In the circle, Ackerman is in the top-20 in appearances (38), starts (28), saves (4), and wins (20). Spaitis sits 12th with five saves.
LOOKING AHEAD
North Georgia (42-12) is in the top-25 nationally in 17 different statistical categories: batting average (0.352), doubles (98), doubles per game (1.81), hit by pitch (42), hits (528), home runs (79), home runs per game (1.46), on base percentage (0.432), RBI per game (7.48), runs batted in (404), scoring (8.20), slugging percentage (0.613), total runs (443), triples (28), triples per game (0.52), win-loss percentage (0.778), and walks (182).
Individually, Carleigh Knowles is having an incredible freshman campaign and leads Division II in home runs (21). The catcher ranks second in homers per game (0.39), third in both slugging percentage (0.909) and total bases (149), seventh in runs batted in (66), 11th in RBI per game (1.22), and 24th in runs (56). Sydnee Reaves is fifth in runs scored (63), 10th in runs per game (1.17), 17th in total bases (134), and 20th in doubles (18). Natalie Ray ranks 23rd in slugging at a 0.808 clip. In the circle, Angelina Badalament has been the ace with 38 appearances (12th in DII), 29 starts (13th in DII), and 20 victories (20th in DII).
Further information regarding policies, tickets, and tournament schedule can be found on the North Georgia website or the direct link can be found here. Additionally, links to live stats and video for the event are also located on the event site or at tusculumpioneers.com.
2025 NCAA Division II Softball Southeast Regional (Double Elimination)
Thursday, May 8 (Dahlonega, Ga.) - Region Two
Game 1: #2 North Georgia vs. #7 Tusculum, 2 p.m.
Game 2: #3 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. #6 Lincoln Memorial, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9 (Dahlonega, Ga.) - Region Two
Game 3: Game #1 Winner vs. Game #2 Winner, 12 p.m.
Game 4: Game #1 Loser vs. Game #2 Loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game #3 Loser vs. Game #4 Winner, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 10 (Dahlonega, Ga.) - Region Two
Game 6: Game #3 Winner vs. Game #5 Winner, 12 p.m.
Game 7: Game #6 Winner vs. Game #6 Loser, 2:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Thursday, May 15-Friday, May 16 (TBD)
Super Regional
