GAFFNEY, S.C. – Kyle Cagle carried a no-hitter through seven innings of work as the sophomore left-hander worked his first career complete game to give Carson-Newman its first win of the year at Limestone 7-1 on Saturday afternoon at Founders FCU Stadium.
Cagle allowed two hits on the day with on earned run while walking four and striking out three men. John Staab broke up the no-hit bid to lead off the eighth inning with a single to right field.
Limestone (2-1) takes the overall series as Carson-Newman (1-2) wins for just the sixth time in 21 tries in Gaffney.
After a ground out started the top of the second inning, John Sharpe (Franklin, Tenn.) ripped a double into the gap in left center. Following a strikeout, Tyler Thompson (Gallatin, Tenn.) bounced a base hit back up the box to score Sharpe and put C-N on top 1-0.
The Eagles pushed the edge to 2-0 in the top of the fourth thanks to the same pair. Sharpe was at first base with two outs when Thompson singled to left-center field. Brandon Etheridge's throw from center field went into C-N's dugout as the umpires awarded Sharpe home plate.
Brett Langhorne (Mechiancsville, Va.) started the top of the fifth inning with a double down the right-field line. Following a fly out, Cade Snapp (Seymour, Tenn.) lined out to the pitcher. With Langhorne off of the second-base bag, Matt Orth tossed the ball into center allowing the senior to move to third base. With the left-hander working from the full windup, Langhorne dashed to the plate on a 2-0 pitch. Ryan Williams failed to handle the pitch cleanly and Langhorne slid into home with a stolen base to make it a 3-0 game.
Langhorne and Micah Genter (Jasper, Tenn.) reached on a single and hit-by-pitch respectively to start the seventh for C-N. After a double play that sent Langhorne to third, he scored on a wild pitch to extend the margin to 4-0.
Limestone put together a rally attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to two walks and a hit batter with two outs in the stanza. Cagle punched out Trace Whetsell on a slurve on the outside corner that Whetsell waved at to keep the Saints off of the scoreboard.
First career complete game ✅
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) February 3, 2018
No-hitter through seven ✅
Win ✅@kcagle_11 was dominant for @CNBaseball Saturday morning. pic.twitter.com/3SmupEfPJA
The eighth inning provided insurance for Carson-Newman to stretch the lead to 7-0. A throwing by Limestone shortstop Channing Painton put Sharpe at second base with no one out in the top of the eighth. After a balk, Killian Daughtry (Simpsonville, S.C.) punched a single into right field. A sacrifice fly from Langhorne and a throwing error at shortstop provided a pair more for Griffin's group.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Zach Piazza was hit by a pitch and Orth doubled to right to start the frame. A ground out by Chase Allen to third base put the Saints on the scoreboard.
Sharpe finished his day at the plate 2-for-5 with three runs scored to pace the offense. Thompson reached base in all four trips to the dish with two hits and walks.
Langhorne registered a 2-for-4 day with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
Orth (0-1) took the loss on the rubber despite allowing two earned runs on seven hits over six stanzas of work. He struck out four and walked one while yielding four total runs. He was the only player to reach base multiple times at the plate going 1-for-3 with a walk.
C-N concludes the opening weekend following a few hours off with a 4 p.m. first pitch against Pfeiffer inside of FCU Stadium. Live stats and video will be available through Limestone's website with updates on Twitter at @CNathletics.
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