HICKORY, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (16-16, 9-12 South Atlantic Conference) saw junior shortstop Bryan Everhart blast a three-run home run over the fence in left field on a 3-2 pitch to give the visiting club an 8-7 win in the second game against the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (8-24, 5-14 SAC) at Bears Field after Lenoir-Rhyne won game one 4-2 Saturday afternoon.

"We knew it was going to be a grind all day," head coach Tom Griffin said about the series. "We stayed with it. I thought our middle relievers did a good job. It wasn't easy, but we're proud of them."

GAME ONE – Lenoir-Rhyne 4  Carson-Newman 2

Lenoir-Rhyne collected four consecutive hits in the bottom of the first inning against senior right-handed starting pitcher Quinton Yocom (Cable, Ohio). RBI singles by pitcher Ivan Vieitez and center fielder Brandon Walker gave the home team a 2-0 lead after an inning.

The Eagles responded in the next half inning. With one out, junior shortstop Bryan Everhart (Greeneville, Tenn.) bounced a single through the left side of the infield. Everhart advanced to second base on a passed ball and scored on a two-out single to right field by senior third basemen Trace Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) to make it 2-1 Bears.

In the top of the third inning, senior second basemen Peter Rajkovich (Stockton, Calif.) reached with one out on a fielding error by first basemen David Newcomer. Junior left fielder Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) drove a 1-2 pitch to the gap in right center field to score Rajkovich from first base and knot the score at two in the third inning.

The home team captured the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks began the inning and Griffin went to the bullpen to bring in senior right-hander Daniel Sharp (Johnson City, Tenn.). A single by first basemen David Newcomer loaded the bases. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly scored a pair of runs and gave the Bears a 4-2 edge.

Yocom lost for the fourth time in five decisions in his shortest start of the season. The senior lasted just four innings allowing four runs, three earned runs on seven hits, three walks and one strikeout.

GAME TWO – Carson-Newman 8  Lenoir-Rhyne 7 

The Eagles were down to their final strike. On a 3-2 pitch, Everhart crushed a ball off of the roof of the batting cages beyond the left field fence to put Carson-Newman ahead 8-7. It was the fourth home run of the season for Everhart.

"I knew it was going to be a good at-bat when I was laying off of some good pitches," Everhart said after the game. "My balance felt really good and I had faced that guy last night so I knew what he had. He came with a fastball low and in and I was able to get extended on it."

Sophomore southpaw Vince Apicella (Dillsburg, Pa.) retired the first six batters that he faced until an error by Rajkovich allowed the leadoff man to reach in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, second basemen Brantley Rumford bounced a single into left field to give the Bears a 1-0 edge. Third basemen Josh Murphy ripped a double to the gap in left center field to plate two runs. Vieitez ripped his fourth double of the series to left field to make it a 4-0 deficit for the Eagles.

Ausmus doubled off of the top of the wall in left field to begin the top of the fourth inning. A single by freshman designated hitter Greg Jones (Maryville, Tenn.) and a hit-by-pitch to Everhart loaded the bases for the Eagles. A fielder's choice and a ground out brought home a pair of runs. Junior catcher J.D. Cowart (Athens, Tenn.) looped a ball down the right field line to bring home a third run and cut the deficit to one at 4-3.

Carson-Newman took its first lead of the series in the top of the fifth inning. After sophomore first basemen Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) doubled to right center field, Ausmus hammered his sixth home run of the season well over the fence in left field to make it 5-4 Carson-Newman.

The Eagles could not hold the lead as the Bears plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The first three men reached base and a fielder's choice tied the game. A two-run double by catcher Read Brown gave the home team a 7-5 advantage.

Griffin's group is back in action Tuesday afternoon at King University for a first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network.

- CN -