College Sports University in the TranSouth Championships in Paducah, Ky., and then striking out 17 in another complete game shutout versus Campbellsville University in the NAIA Championships Opening Round in Joliet, Ill. He recorded a pair of victories in the NAIA World Series, striking out 13 and giving up just one run in eight innings versus EmbryRiddle in the opener for CU. Then in the championship game, Wilkerson tossed eight innings of four-hit ball before running into trouble in the ninth but still escaping, starting a gameending doubleplay in the Bulldogs 4-3 triumph against Lee University. Catcher David Fanshawe, first baseman Greg Appleton and second baseman T.J. Murphy are the Bulldogs three returning position players. Fanshawe batted .342 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 49 RBIs while catching more than 90
www.tnsportsmag.com
percent of the innings last season. He was one of the biggest reasons for the Bulldogs great pitching staff in 2010, which posted a 3.76 team ERA, struck out 464 and walked just 150. He threw out 34 percent of potential base stealers and also drove in all four runs in championship game. Appleton played mostly first base but also saw action at second and third last season. He batted .361 with 13 doubles, 17 homers and 58 RBIs, part of the Bulldogs potent offense that belted a school-record 141 home runs. Murphy played in 48 games with 36 starts last year, batting .315 with three doubles and 10 RBIs. He scored 23 runs, walked 16 times and was also hit six times. He started everyday during the last month of the season, as the Bulldogs won 29 of their last 30 games to end the year. Cumberland's No. 1 ranking dethrones Lewis-Clark State's seven-poll hold on the top ranking
dating to the first 2010 regularseason poll. The first-regular season poll of the 2011 season will be announced on March 29. ■
The Rankings No. School – Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Cumberland Univ. – 80 (8) 2. Union Univ. – 73 (1) 3. Trevecca Nazarene – 52 4. Bethel Univ. – 45 t5. Freed-Hardeman – 43 t5. Martin Methodist – 43 7. Lyon College – 42 8. Mid-Continent – 17 9. Blue Mountain – 10
Tennessee Sports Magazine • December 2010
41