Tennessee Wesleyan College senior Wardy Polanco added to his Appalachian Athletic Conference honor by being named the overall NAIA baseball player of the week for his offensive eruption for games played March 21-27.
He batted .450 with a 1.300 slugging percentage as he had five home runs and two doubles in his nine hits, walked twice, drove in 12 runs and scored eight. Polanco had three homers and six RBIs in one game. TWC went 4-1 last week and moved up a spot to No. 9 in the NAIA poll. The Bulldogs lost 9-3 to Cumberland University at home Wednesday, falling to 22-9 with the nonconference loss.
– No. 20-ranked Bryan College beat visiting Campbellsville (Ky.) University 14-3 in an NAIA nonconference matchup Wednesday, the Lions’ 25th win in 34 games this season.
Softball
– Lee University swept a home doubleheader Wednesday against Brevard (N.C.) College, winning the NCAA Division II games 12-1 and 8-0.
The Lady Flames (14-21-1) were balanced offensively in the first game, with nine players reaching base – Emily Dagnan was 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, Courtney Crawford was 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple and two RBIs, Amanda Lynn had a hit, walked twice, stole two bases and drove in a run, and Stevie Baird stole four bases, scored three runs, walked, had a hit and drove in a run. Angie Hughes was the winning pitcher. In the second game, Annabeth Pruett was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, NiaRaye Ceasar was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, Hallie Davis was 2-for-3 with a double and Leigh Beatenbough struck out five as she pitched for the win.
– Covenant College swept a home doubleheader with Milwaukee’s Alverno College on Wednesday, winning the NCAA Division III games 10-2 and 9-0. In the opener, which included a seven-run sixth inning for the Lady Scots (13-4-1), Jordan Brett was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and an RBI, Morgan Lane was 2-f
or-4 with three RBIs, Joni Johnson and Madalyn Ames each went 2-for-3 while driving in a run – with one of Johnson’s hits a double – and Shade Epes had two RBIs and was the winning pitcher. In the second game, Brett, Jami Johnson, Lane and Shannon Schmitt each had two hits (Lane, who homered, drove in three runs and Brett had two RBIs), Kasey Hart walked twice with a hit and an RBI, and Carsyn Stone was the winning pitcher.
– TWC was swept in an AAC softball doubleheader Wednesday at Reinhardt, losing 3-2 in eight innings and 4-2. The Lady Bulldogs dropped to 13-12, including 8-4 in the league.
Lacrosse
– TWC junior Jasmine Hickman was the AAC women’s lacrosse offensive player of the week after compiling 14 goals, five assists and 30 groundballs in a 3-0 week for the Lady Bulldogs.
They improved to 9-3 overall and remained undefeated through six AAC matches with Wednesday’s 18-4 home win against University of the Cumberlands, when Hickman notched three more goals and as many assists. Taylor Bargainer led the way with five goals, April Maziarz added three and two assists, Casey Schaefer had three goals and Paige Falkowski recorded three saves. Meanwhile, the TWC men won 14-13 at Cumberlands behind Dalton O’Connell’s four-goal, two-assist performance. Parker Thomas added three goals and four assists for the Bulldogs (5-6, 3-1), Kaidon Newberry had three goals and one assist, Roderick Williams had two goals and one assist and Oscar Cifeuntes made 11 saves.
Golf
– Former Soddy-Daisy High School standout Jessica Cathey of Austin Peay was the Ohio Valley Conference women’s golfer of the week after winning the 15-team, 90-player Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill., by two shots. She followed a 74 with a 70 for an even-par 144, including eight birdies.
– Georgia Northwestern’s Tucker Venable tied for 10th individually at 4-over-par 220 and teammate Chase Cole tied for 12th at 221 with Jordan Estes 23rd at 230 in the Glen Lakes Invitational tournament Monday and Tuesday in Foley, Ala. The Bobcats were fifth as a team at 906.