ROCK HILL, S.C.
The Tusculum softball team is picked to finish eighth in this season's race for the South Atlantic Conference title in a poll of the conference's nine head coaches.
Tusculum received 21 votes in the poll, returning six starters and 13 letter-winners from last year's squad. The Pioneers return over half of their run production from last season and their top two pitchers, including senior Holli Cadenhead, who led TC with 10 wins and finished the campaign second on the team with two home runs.
Carson-Newman is picked to win the regular season title, receiving 72 points and four first-place votes after winning last season's Food Lion SAC Tournament crown and advancing to the championship game of the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Tournament.
Lenoir-Rhyne is tabbed second, followed by Wingate, Newberry, Mars Hill, Catawba, Lincoln Memorial, Tusculum,and Brevard College.
Tusculum opens the season on Sunday when the Pioneers host Milligan at 2 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader at Red Edmonds Field.
