Record Six Pioneers Named All Conference

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A program-record six Pioneers were named to the 2025 edition of the South Atlantic Conference all-league teams. Tusculum University softball has had at least one player named to an all-conference dating back to 2011 (with the COVID year not included).

Danielle Jason was named to the first team as an outfielder. Brooke Smith and Abby Hunter were tabbed to the second team at second base and outfield, respectively. Sammy Jimenez, (catcher), Ellie Alvarez (shortstop), and Megan Ackerman (utility/pitcher) represented Tusculum on the third team.

Jason, a graduate student from Olyphant, Pennsylvania, holds the single-season (46) and career (70) records for stolen bases. Her season total ranks second nationally, while her 0.88 per game rate is 12th. Across 171 at bats, she has 78 hits (5th in DII), 57 runs scored (9th in DII), eight doubles, two triples, 16 runs batted in, and 19 walks for a .456 batting average (23rd nationally). Jason has a .513 on base percentage and a .526 slugging percentage. She has laid down 12 sacrifice bunts and accounted for 90 total bases. In the field, Jason is credited with 91 putouts and eight assists. In the TU record book for a season, Jason ranks third in runs, fifth in on base percentage, sixth in batting average, sixth in hits, ninth in sacrifice bunts, and 10th in at bats. This marks the second-straight season that Jason has earned a postseason honor from the SAC.

Smith, a sophomore from Acworth, Georgia, earns her first career all-conference honor. She has accounted for 79 hits (4th in DII), 58 runs (7th in DII), eight doubles, three triples, 28 RBI, 14 walks, and 30 steals on 169 at bats. Smith has a .467/.526/.550 slashline. She also ranks 14th in DII with her .467 batting average, 22nd in stolen base percentage (0.968), and 23rd in runs per game (1.12). Additionally, Smith has been hit by seven pitches, laid down 11 sacrifice bunts, and racked up 93 total bases. At second base, she has 112 putouts and 68 assists on a .957 fielding percentage, aiding in six double plays. In the TU season records, Smith is second in runs, third in on base percentage, fourth in batting average, fourth in steals, and fifth in hits.

Hunter, a sophomore native of Clemmons, North Carolina, also earns her first SAC laurel. The Pioneer center fielder recorded 45 hits, 24 runs, seven doubles, four triples, one home run, 28 RBI, 12 walks, and 11 steals across 134 at bats. Hunter is averaging .336 at the plate with a .382 on base percentages and slugging .470. She has been hit by a pitch, tallied five sacrifice flies, and one sacrifice bunt to total 63 bases. Her sacrifice fly total is 16th nationally and is tied for the TU season record. Defensively, Hunter has a .985 fielding percentage with 125 putouts and four outfield assists.

Jimenez, a junior from Bartlett, Illinois, is five home runs shy of owning the TU career record. The catcher has 48 hits, 44 runs, nine doubles, one triple, six homers, 53 RBI (25th in DII), 22 walks, and five steals across 138 at bats. Her RBI total ranks second for a TU single-season. Jimenez is averaging .348 with a .430 OBP and .558 slugging percentage. She has been hit by one pitch with four sacrifice flies and three sacrifice bunts for 77 total bases. Behind the plate, Jimenez has 184 putouts and 21 assists for a .986 fielding percentage, while also throwing out seven runners.

Alvarez, a junior from Plano, Ill., has earned back-to-back third team honors as the Tusculum shortstop. She has recorded 68 hits, 52 runs (21st in DII), 12 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 32 RBI, 13 walks, 27 stolen bases (7th at TU) on a team-leading 172 at bats (7th at TU). Alvarez is averaging .395 at the plate with a .445 on base percentage and .564 slugging percentage. She has been hit by four pitches with two sacrifice flies and four sacrifice bunts for a total of 97 bases. Alvarez has 79 putouts and 76 assists, aiding in seven double plays.

Ackerman, a graduate student from Gray, Tennessee, is just the sixth pitcher in program history to reach 20 wins in a single season, which ranks 10th in DII this year. In the circle, she has a 20-8 record with four saves (19th in DII), 25 starts (21st in DII), and 15 complete games in 36 appearances (2nd in DII, 5th at TU). Ackerman has tossed 151.1 innings with 116 strikeouts on a 4.16 earned run average. In the batter’s box, she is averaging .322 with a .412 OBP and a .576 slugging percentage, totaling 19 hits, nine runs, four doubles, one triple, three homers, 17 RBI, and nine walks in 59 at bats. Ackerman has a perfect fielding percentage with one putout and 20 assists.

The Pioneers finished the regular season with a 37-15 (13-11 SAC) record and have their most wins in a season since 1995 (40). TU has collected 20+ wins in 14-straight campaigns, excluding the shortened COVID season. This spans the entirety of head coach Julie Huebner’s tenure as well.

Tusculum faces archrival Carson-Newman in the SAC Championship opening round this weekend.

2025 SAC Softball All-Conference
All-SAC First Team
C – Lani Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B – Kary Hales, Catawba
2B – Hayden Dye, Carson-Newman
SS – Savanna Brooks, Wingate
3B – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
OF – Hannah Stevens, Wingate
OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate
OF – Danielle Jason, Tusculum
DP – Hanna Bogoski, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/Non-P – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
UTL/P – Hali Scott, Wingate
P – Halle Grace Patton, Lincoln Memorial
P – Jillian Thomas, Wingate

All-SAC Second Team
C – Raelynn Kramer, Wingate
1B – Avery Kiger, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Brooke Smith, Tusculum
SS – Katelyn Rackard, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Madison Primm, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – SieAnna Cameron, Carson-Newman
OF – Cassidy Wall, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Abby Hunter, Tusculum
DP – Samantha Clark, Newberry
UTL/Non-P – Jaden Burns, Wingate
UTL/P – Syerra Rogers, Carson-Newman
P – Lily Robbins, Wingate
P – Katie Morris, Anderson

All-SAC Third Team
C – Sammy Jimenez, Tusculum
1B – Lydia Taylor, Emory & Henry
2B – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Ellie Alvarez, Tusculum
3B – Farley Park, Mars Hill
OF – Danielle King, Emory & Henry
OF – Maddy Staples, Newberry
OF – Ariana Fair, Coker
DP – Maddy Altiers, Catawba
UTL/Non-P – Hannah Booth, Emory & Henry
UTL/P – Megan Ackerman, Tusculum
P – Faith Carrigan, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Malorie Reeves, Emory & Henry