GAFFNEY, S.C. – Matt Bradley matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts but Limestone scored twice with two outs in the eighth inning to spoil Carson-Newman's opening day at Founders FCU Stadium on Thursday winning 4-3.
"Bradley threw really well," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "He was exceptional. I thought we pitched it well enough to win the game. We had two errors in one inning and those hurt us and put them back in the game. After we scored our three, our at bats were not very good. Give credit to their two pitchers. We weren't competitive for a few innings and those innings went so quickly. They were able to put the ball in play and that was the difference."
Bradley dazzled for six strong innings fanning 11 to match his career established as a rookie in the South Atlantic Conference Baseball Championships against Anderson on April 28, 2018. The Talbott, Tenn. native allowed six hits, one walked, two runs, one earned on the day.
Carson-Newman (0-1) had won six straight meetings with Limestone (1-0) as the Saints won for the first time since a 3-0 win at home on Feb. 2, 2019. The setback snaps a two-game winning streak for the Orange and Blue on opening day.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the third as Bryce Hanley (Greenback, Tenn.) singled and Charlie Brown (Sevierville, Tenn.) was hit by a pitch to open the frame. After a punch out, Gunnar Ricketts (Hixson, Tenn.) lined a base hit to right center to bring in Hanley. Two batters later, Brendan Krob (Justicle, Ill.) flipped a base hit through the left side of the infield to cap a three-run stanza and put the visitors ahead 3-0.
Limestone pulled within one scoring twice in the last of the fifth. After a fielder's choice from Trace Whetsell brought home a run, Josh Evans ripped a double to the wall in left-center to close the gap to 3-2.
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Evans singled to open the eighth and was standing at third base with two outs. After a walk, Ryan Farkas dribbled a base hit that snuck through the gap between shortstop and third base to tie the score. Tyler O'Dell pinch hit and flared a knock to right center to give the Saints a 4-3 edge.
Henry Jackson (Waxhaw, N.C.) doubled to left field, one of his team-leading two hits on the day, with two outs in the ninth but a ground ball to third base capped the day.
Five Eagles produced six hits on the day with Krob driving in a pair and Ricketts scoring a run and driving in one. Only one hit came after the fourth inning, the Jackson double in the ninth.
Evans led the offensive effort for Limestone with a 3-for-4 day with an RBI and a run scored and Farkas had a pair of pokes.
Jordan Adcox worked the front seven innings for the Saints giving up three earned runs. Justin Greider took home the win tossing two scoreless stanzas with a pair of punch outs.
The series finale is slated in twin-bill fashion for Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. with a nine-inning and seven-inning affair from the Palmetto State as the Eagles look to get back on track over the opening weekend.
