NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb freshman Jacob Tobias had a big week as he helped lead the Bisons to a series win over North Florida, using strong offensive production to garner this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Baseball Player of the Week honor.
Tobias, an outfielder from Birmingham, batted 7-for-16 on the week, collecting 13 total RBI – including seven in Saturday’s victory over the Ospreys. Tobias batted 3-for-6 in the game as he drove in one with a ground out to short in the third, a grand slam in the sixth, then had a two-run single in the seventh in Lipscomb’s 21-7 victory.
On the hill, Tennessee Tech pitcher Landon Smiddy earned the Pitcher of the Week award as he threw the Golden Eagles’ first nine-inning, complete-game shutout since 2018 as Tech blanked Ohio Valley Conference foe Lindenwood.
The senior from Knoxville struck out 10 batters while allowing three hits and five walks, working his way out of a couple of mid-game jams before going into cruise control. He allowed one hit to the Lions from the second out in the first inning until the leadoff batter in the eighth.
On the softball side, Belmont sophomore shortstop Nicole Hughes made an impact in the three-game set as she collected eight hits and three runs in only 10 at-bats for an .800 clip. The big game came Sunday as she went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double and two runs scored. She ended the weekend with an .833 on-base mark and a 1.100 slugging percentage.
In the circle, Lane College sophomore pitcher Jersey Cabana was fantastic this week as she threw three complete game shutouts on the week for a flawless 0.00 earned run average. She allowed nine hits and walked one while striking out 17. Her opponents hit .155 against her for the week. Cabana improved to 15-4 on the season.
BASEBALL
2/20 | Player: John Bay (Austin Peay); Pitcher: Peyton Calitri (Tennessee Tech)
2/27 | Player: Hayden Gilliland (Tennessee Tech); Pitcher: Andrew Devine (Austin Peay)
3/5 | Player: Camden Kozeal (Vanderbilt); Pitcher: Will Pryor (Belmont)
3/12 | Player: Tanner Shiver (Tennessee Tech); Pitcher: Devin Futrell (Vanderbilt)
3/19 | Player: Harrison Travis (Carson-Newman); Pitcher: Noah Toney (Union)
3/26 | Player: Cam Suto (Lee); Pitcher: Chandler Alderman (Middle Tennessee)
4/2 | Player: Dylan Dreiling (Tennessee); Pitcher: Bryce Cunningham (Vanderbilt)
4/9 | Player: Brody Szako (Austin Peay); Pitcher: Peyton Calitri (Tennessee Tech)
4/16 | Player: Jacob Tobias (Lipscomb); Pitcher: Landon Smiddy (Tennessee Tech)
SOFTBALL
2/20 | Player: Olivia Lipari (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Ashlan Sensing (Trevecca)
2/27 | Player: Zoey Neal (Union); Pitcher: Lainey Baker (Union)
3/5 | Player: Hayden Dye (Carson-Newman); Pitcher: Taylor Long (Chattanooga)
3/12 | Player: Brooke Matyasovsky (Carson-Newman); Pitcher: Ashlan Sensing (Trevecca)
3/19 | Player: Kendall Andrews (Trevecca); Pitcher: Caitlyn Manus (Tennessee State)
3/26 | Player: Kendall Andrews (Trevecca); Pitcher: Taylor Long (Chattanooga)
4/2 | Player: Kailey Snell (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Lainey Baker (Union)
4/9 | Player: Sydney McCormick (Trevecca); Pitcher: Ashlan Sensing (Trevecca)
4/16 | Player: Nicole Hughes (Belmont); Pitcher: Jersey Cabana (Lane College)