VIDEO: Austin Kearney Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Cade Snapp hit a two-run walk-off single in a 9-8 win in the first game and Vince Apicella cashed in a complete-game shutout in a 3-0 series finale victory for Carson-Newman to take a pair against Newberry Saturday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
"I couldn't be prouder of a team," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "I couldn't be prouder of a coaching staff than just what happened right there. Newberry is an outstanding team. For us to overcome that, absolutely outstanding. It's a very good day and I'm very proud of them."
The Eagles (21-14, 8-7) won a series at home against the Wolves (25-11, 8-7) for the seventh straight try with the last win at the SDBC for Newberry coming on March 22-23, 2003.
Game One – Carson-Newman 9, Newberry 8
The Eagles overcame two-run deficit entering the ninth for the first comeback entering the ninth inning for the first time in 11 games when C-N topped Belmont Abbey 6-5 on April 7, 2015 at Abbey Yard.
"It was the same scenario as Mars Hill," Griffin said. "Having faith in yourself, in your teammates. That's God's plan and we remind guys each day what a blessing we have to do this."
JoJo Bradley doubled with one out in the top of the first inning to the left-center field alley and scored two batters later. Trejon Smith hit a sharp ground ball to second baseman Eric Lynch (Boonton, N.J.) that Lynch bobbled allowing the Wolves to take a 1-0 edge.
Junior center fielder Ryan Addington (Cincinnati, Ohio) laced a double that one-hopped the left-center field and went to third base on a throwing error by Michael Gonzalez. A ground out to second base by junior shortstop Jimmy Rice (Middlesex, N.J.) scored Addington to tie the score.
Danton Hyman singled to right field that scored Jeff Sneed from second base after the ball popped out of the mitt of junior catcher Greg Jones (Maryville, Tenn.) on the tag at the plate to give Newberry the lead back.
Newberry starter Mike Delee retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the second inning before allowing a walk, a single to left and a walk. With the bases loaded, Addington ripped a single back up the box to plate a pair and give the Eagles their first lead of the day at 3-2.
The Wolves regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning as Hyman slashed a single into left-center field to score a pair and make it a 4-3 contest.
In the top of the fifth inning, the visitors sent 10 men to the plate and scored four runs to extend the lead to 8-3. After a punch out to start the stanza, the next six men reached safely. A walk and a single preceded an RBI double by Trejon Smith to left field. Derek Olenchuk and Sneed singled to center field to score two more runs. The scoring was capped by a sacrifice fly to left field by Hyman.
The Eagles pulled within two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman right fielder Ian Pung (Knoxville, Tenn.) doubled to right field and junior Zach Gentry (Pleasant View, Tenn.) lined a base hit to right field with one out to put two on base. Redshirt-sophomore pinch-hitter Graham Warren (Franklin, Tenn.) launched a 1-0 offering over the left-field fence for his first career home run, a three-run shot.
Trailing by a pair entering the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Austin Kearney (Powell, Tenn.) snapped an 0-for-14 string with a base hit to left field. Addington singled to right field to put two aboard. After a pop out, senior third baseman Brandon Roberts (Davie, Fla.) laced a single that was misjudged by Gonzalez for a base hit to score a run. Junior first baseman Paul Kirby (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) drew a walk to load the bases. Sophomore Cade Snapp (Seymour, Tenn.) bounced a ball in between second and third base to score a pair and give the Eagles a walk-off victory.
"I was really looking for anything up," Kearney said. "I was just concentrating. Our backs were against the wall right there. I was just seeing the ball up and I knew their guy was not throwing that fast today. I was just glad our team pulled something together."
Addington went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored while Roberts and Gentry each had a pair of hits. Carson-Newman's bullpen four scoreless innings of relief allow just two hits.
Game Two – Carson-Newman 3, Newberry 0
Senior starter Vince Apicella (Dillsburg, Pa.) worked his 10th career complete game and fourth career shutout to improve to 6-2 on the year. The left-hander struck out nine while walking three and giving up three hits.
Lynch put the Eagles on the scoreboard with one out in the bottom of the third inning with his first career home run in 184 at-bats. On a 1-2 pitch, the right-handed hitter hit a high fly ball to left field that carried over the fence to make it 1-0.
Gentry started the fifth inning by reaching on an error by Newberry shortstop Robert Kosch and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch had Gentry at third base and he scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Addington to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
The Eagles added insurance in the bottom of the sixth inning. Roberts single to right and stole second to begin the frame and stole second base. Following a strikeout and a ground out, Kearney laced a base hit into right-center field to score Roberts and extend the lead to 3-0.
Kearney notched a multi-hit day for the third time this season going 2-for-2 as the Eagles outhit the Wolves 5-3.
Carson-Newman host a pair of midweek games at 3 p.m. with King (Tenn.) coming to town Tuesday and Shorter at the creek on Wednesday. Broadcast coverage begins at 2:50 p.m. for both contests on cneagles.com/live with audio and video streams.
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