Trojans use timely hitting to defeat Eagles 3-1

Trojans use timely hitting to defeat Eagles 3-1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the first meeting between the two programs, the Trevecca Nazerene Trojans (11-2) defeated the Carson-Newman Eagles (11-9) 3-1 Wednesday evening at Jackson Field. Carson-Newman stranded the bases loaded twice and left 10 total runners on the base paths.

"Leaving that many men on and not putting balls in play," head coach Tom Griffin said of the lack of situational hitting. "You have to put balls in play and our guys did not do that. That was disappointing more than anything because I thought coming in we were swinging it really well."

Trevecca Nazerene scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning. Three consecutive hits capped by an RBI base hit to right field by right fielder Tyler Tichenor gave the home team a 1-0 lead. Sophomore right-hander Clayton Eames (Hoschton, Ga.) struck out the final two batters to strand the bases loaded.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Eagles knotted the score at one on an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) who lined a 2-2 pitch into right field. Carson-Newman stranded the bases loaded in the inning.

The home club captured the lead right back in the bottom half of the fourth frame. After Eames retired the first batter, shortstop Ryan Arington doubled to left center field. Third basemen Clayton Nichols looped a single into left field to score Arington and make it a 2-1 contest.

A pair of walks issued by senior right-hander Lucas Watson (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) started the fifth inning for the Trojans. Catcher Luke Fennell lined a single in to center field to bring home another run and make it a 3-1 deficit for the Eagles.

Carson-Newman put on the first two runners of the top of the ninth inning, but junior second basemen Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and junior right fielder Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.) struck out to end the game.

Eames went 3.1 innings allowing two runs on seven hits while tying a career-high with five strikeouts taking the loss for the second straight outing to fall to 1-2 on the year.

Tipton tallied his sixth multi-hit game of the year and second three-hit contest going 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Carson-Newman prepares for a three-game series this weekend at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex as the Eagles play host to the Mars Hill Lions. Each game will be broadcast in high definition.

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