Carson-Newman Baseball Game Notes
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (9-7, 6-6 South Atlantic Conference) take on the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (9-7, 6-3 SAC) in a three-game series Saturday and Sunday at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. Saturday will feature a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m. with the series concluding Sunday at 1 p.m. with a nine-inning contest.
Carson-Newman is looking to continue its groove offensively after putting up 14 runs, the second-most in 2015 by the squad raising its batting average 11 points in a victory over Bluefield State on Tuesday. Consistency is something the Eagles are looking for this weekend in SAC play.
"There are some guys doing well," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "There are some guys who are pressing a little bit. Is it mechanical or is it mental? Those two things go together with hitting. We don't feel it is as much of a mechanical thing. Most of it's mental. Most of it's the approach, the plan when they get in the box. A lot of them have it in the dugout and on-deck, but when they get in the box, it's not transferring."
While the Carson-Newman pitching staff has been among the best in the league in every statistical category, the team understands that it is time for the hitters to hold up their end of the deal and help boost the pitching staff.
"The key this weekend I think is our approach at the plate," Griffin said. "What I mean by that is are we going to make adjustments to what part of the plate we are being pitched on. I think our plate zone discipline and what we do with our plan will be the key."
The Railsplitters have won six straight games scoring nine or more runs in five of those contests. One of the biggest reasons Lincoln Memorial has been efficient offensively has been the ability to put the ball in play. The Railsplitters have struck out 85 times in 16 games this season, the second fewest in the league.
Outfielder Logan Augustine leads the offensive attack with a .453 batting average that ranks third in the SAC while ranking in the top 10 in walks and hits.
"Offensively, I think they've been a very good club," Griffin said. "They swing the bat well. They have a couple kids in the lineup that are new and we haven't seen before that are swinging the bat well. They have some veteran presence also in there as well. They are playing very well."
The biggest issue that LMU has run into this season is pitching as the Railsplitters have the worst team earned run average in the SAC at 6.98. Opponents have score eight or more runs seven times in 2015 against the Lincoln Memorial pitching staff.
Carson-Newman holds a 28-22 lead in the all-time series while Lincoln Memorial won two out of three games in the series in 2014. Carson-Newman split a doubleheader on Saturday in which the Eagles hit five home runs in 16 innings of play. Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) and Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.) each hit a pair of home runs on the day.
All three games during the weekend will be broadcast on cneagles.com/live with a high definition video stream. Live stats can be found by using the same link.
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