MARS HILL, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (10-13, 7-11 South Atlantic Conference) ended a six-game losing streak and a nine-game conference skid with a 6-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Henderson Field. The Mars Hill Lions (6-13, 3-9 SAC) took the first game 13-3.
"I think the players will tell you that the second game was the hardest game for them to play," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "You're wanting something to end you're really grinding and really pushing for it. Mentally, it's probably the hardest game to play because they know what's on the line."
Game No. 1 – MARS HILL 13, Carson-Newman 3
After working out of a jam in the bottom of the first inning, junior southpaw Vince Apicella (Dillsburg, Pa.) only retired one batter in the bottom of the second inning as the Lions batted around. A leadoff single by Tommy Scala set the stage for Nick Villalobos who blasted a 1-1 Apicella offering over the leftfield wall to make it 2-0. After a strikeout, Apicella walked catcher Christian Stampler and Evan Rogers singled on a 3-0 pitch. Centerfielder Ray Carolina doubled to the corner in left to plate Stampler and Rogers to cap a four-run frame.
Two runs had already crossed the plated in the bottom of the fourth frame when Dalton Eisenbath stepped to the plate with two on and one out. The third basemen hammered a 2-2 pitch onto the hill over the leftfield wall to cap a five-run inning and make it a 9-0 game.
The Lions added two more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings. Carolina capped the fifth inning with his second double of the day to rightfield. A single, three walks and a hit batter allowed two more runs to score in the sixth.
Junior third basemen Brandon Roberts (Davie, Fla.) put the Eagles on the board with a two-run home run on a 0-1 pitch with one out in the seventh that cleared the left-centerfield fence. A base on balls brought home third run of the game for Carson-Newman who stranded the bases loaded.
Apicella worked a season-low 1.1 innings to lose for the third straight outing by allowing four earned runs on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
The Eagles were outhit 12-6 on the day as they went down in order in three innings. Roberts led the way by going 2-for-3 in the game.
Mars Hill starter Hunter Boydston tossed his first complete game of the year by going seven innings allowing three runs, two earned on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
Game No. 2 – CARSON-NEWMAN 6, Mars Hill 2
Carson-Newman used its late rally in the first game to jumpstart its offense in game two. Junior centerfielder Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) singled to left followed by a walk to Roberts to begin the inning. Senior leftfielder Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) lined a base hit into left to plate Tipton and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Evan Rogers continued his hot hitting with his seventh hit of the series, a triple off of the centerfield fence, to start the bottom of the first frame. Two batters later, Dylan Powers doubled off the wall in left-centerfield to tie the score at one.
The Lions loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of singles and an error with no one out. Carolina grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to give Mars Hill a 2-1 edge.
The Eagles tied the score in the top of the sixth inning. A leadoff double by Ausmus preceded senior first basemen Evan Jurjevic (New Carlisle, Ind.) getting hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base. Senior rightfielder Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.) blooped a ball into left that Villalobos couldn't grab that allowed Ausmus to score and square the game at two.
Griffin's group erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh sending nine men to the plate in the stanza. Ausmus plated two runs with a solid single to left to make it a 4-2 contest. Fox notched two more RBI with a double off of wall in rightfield to make it 6-2.
Carson-Newman starter Jamie Miller (Wardensville, N.J.) worked a career-high seven innings while allowing two runs, one earned on six hits and two walks while striking out a career-high eight batters. Miller is now 2-1 on the season after tossing his second straight complete game.
"Jamie was great," Griffin said. "Him and J.D. Cowart I thought worked really well together and established some things. They got some big outs."
Ausmus led the way by going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to help the visiting group crank out 10 hits.
The Eagles continue action with the start of a two-game midweek series against Cedarville beginning Tuesday at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. with video and audio available by visiting cneagles.com/live.
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