Tusculum, Catawba Earn Top-10 Rankings in Latest National Baseball Poll
DALLAS - The top two teams in the SAC baseball standings - Catawba and Tusculum - have been ranked in the top 10 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Tusculum sits at No. 3 in this week's poll, while Catawba is ranked No. 9.
Tusculum - which received two first-place votes in this week's poll - is currently 28-5 overall and 16-2 in the conference. The Pioneers have won eight-straight games heading into Wednesday's matchup with Lenoir-Rhyne, including series sweeps over SAC-foes Newberry and Brevard.
Entering the week, TC leads the SAC with a 3.46 team ERA, paced by Craig Goodman's 7-0 record and 1.34 ERA. Outfielder Alexi Colon also started the week tied for the SAC lead with 12 home runs.
Catawba currently tops the SAC standings at 17-1 in league play at 26-7 overall. The Indians opened the week leading the conference 246 runs scored at a .323 team batting average.
Catawba starting pitcher JJ Jankowski leads the nation with 87 strikeouts and has a perfect 7-0 record. As a pitching staff, the Indians entered the week having allowed just 272 hits and 85 walks - both of which lead the conference.
Tusculum and Catawba will play their only series of the season on April 6-7 in Greeneville, Tenn.