BREVARD, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (9-6, 5-1 South Atlantic Conference) earned a series victory with a 7-5 win over the Brevard Tornados (5-8, 3-3 South Atlantic Conference) in the rubber match at Gil Coan Field on Sunday afternoon.
The win gives Carson-Newman two series victories to begin SAC play after sweeping Tusculum last weekend, and the Eagles are the first team to post five wins in conference play.
The Eagles trailed 4-1 going into the fifth inning before scoring six runs over the next four frames to collect the 7-5 victory.
Carson-Newman reliever Evan Faithful (1-0) earned the victory. He pitched four and a third innings while giving up a run on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Brevard reliever Alex Litaker (0-1) took the loss after allowing an unearned run on two hits during his two-thirds of an inning on the mound. Carson-Newman's Dustin Dunagan earned his second save of the season by pitching the final two innings in perfect fashion with a pair of strikeouts.
The Eagles took the game's first lead in the top of the second on a RBI groundout by Trace Rogers to give Carson-Newman a 1-0 lead. Brevard responded with a run in the bottom of the inning before Kody Spencer gave the Tornados a 4-1 lead with his three-RBI double in the bottom of the third.
A throwing error helped Carson-Newman get two runs closer in the fifth to cut the Brevard lead to 4-3. Carson-Newman tied the game in the top of the sixth on a Bo Ausmus RBI single. An inning later in the seventh, the Eagles took a 5-4 lead with a Joe Tipton RBI single.
The Eagles added to the lead with a pair of runs in the eighth thanks to a Jackson Reid RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Tipton.
Brevard would add a run in the bottom of the eighth before Dunagan entered to close out the game in a Carson-Newman victory.
Eight of Carson-Newman's nine starters posted a hit during the win, with Bryan Everhart collecting the only multi-hit game going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Both Reid and Tipton had two-RBI days for Carson-Newman. Carson-Newman starting pitcher Quinton Yocom took a no decision after allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts in his two and two-thirds innings on the mound.
The Eagles will next play on Tuesday Feb. 26 at Young Harris at 3 p.m. Carson-Newman will next play at home next weekend with a three-game series against Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday and Saturday at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.