The Tusculum College softball team is ranked eighth in the first NCAA Division II Southeast Region poll of the 2011 season, the NCAA announced Thursday. The rankings are through games of Sunday, March 27.

The Pioneers entered the week with a 20-9 overall record against NCAA schools and 15-8 against regional opponents. They are one of four South Atlantic Conference schools in the rankings, joining Lenoir-Rhyne (24-6, 24-5 region), ranked second, Carson-Newman (25-10-1, 20-10-1 region), ranked ninth, and Wingate (20-11, 20-11 region), ranked 10th.

North Georgia is ranked first in the region with a 30-8 overall record (23-8 region), followed by Lenoir-Rhyne, Armstrong Atlantic (16-6, 13-6 region), Columbus State (26-6, 14-3 region), USC Aiken (21-11, 21-11 region), Augusta State (24-10, 18-9 region), Flagler (26-12, 25-11 region), Tusculum, Carson-Newman and Wingate.

Tusculum is 3-1 so far against regionally-ranked opponents, including a 1-1 mark against North Georgia and a 2-0 record against Wingate. The Pioneers have doubleheaders remaining against Lenoir-Rhyne on April 3 and Carson-Newman on April 5, both on the road.

The Pioneers (24-9 overall, 5-1 SAC) are back in action Saturday against SAC opponent Anderson, with first pitch of the doubleheader at Red Edmonds Field scheduled for 1 p.m.

NCAA Division II Softball Southeast Region Ranking


through March 27, 2011

Rk. School              Overall      In-Region 



1. North Georgia        30-8         23-8


2. Lenoir-Rhyne         24-6         24-5



3. Armstrong Atlantic   16-6         13-6


4. Columbus State       26-6         14-3


5. South Carolina Aiken 21-11        21-11


6. Augusta State        24-10        18-9


7. Flagler              26-12        25-11



8. TUSCULUM             20-9         15-8



9. Carson-Newman        25-10-1      20-10-1


10. Wingate             20-11        20-11




Tusculum opponents in italics