WISE, V.A. – Four different hitters had three-hit days as Carson-Newman (10-9, 5-4 SAC) ended a three-game losing streak with a 10-6 victory over UVA Wise (7-16, 4-5 SAC) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Stallard Field.
"I thought we had a good day of practice yesterday and the guys were motivated heading into today," Carson-Newman head baseball coach Tom Griffin said. "We were more aggressive early in the counts and then it got contagious. It made the whole lineup strive for that same success. I thought Angel and Bench had good outings and then Spencer Bright's defense down the stretch was important. You won't see it in the box score, but he was a big spark. Glad we were able to finish the weekend with a win."
The win gives Carson-Newman its first road win of the season after starting the year 0-4.
Carson-Newman's offense was stout from top to bottom. Eight of the nine hitters recorded a hit with five of them having multi-hit days. All nine starters scored a run for C-N, the first time that has occurred this season.
Hitting leadoff for the second time this season, Spencer Williams set the tone at the top of the order recording his first-career three-hit game, while also driving in a run and scoring a run.
In the cleanup spot, Harrison Travis recorded his third career three-hit game and scored twice. Two more spots down in the order was Tanner Kilgore who a career day. The freshman recorded a career-high three hits and four RBI, including his first-career home run in the 5th inning.
"He is very calm," Griffin said. "Great hand eye coordination and has great juice in the bat. He is going to be a good hitter and has a bright future. Really cool with his family's legacy and him growing up around Carson-Newman and now to see his success on the field."
Rounding out the balanced hitting throughout the order was Trey Miller (Rocky Point, N.Y.) who recorded his second three-hit game of the year and drove in two runs.
The Eagles scored first to start the second inning. Harrison Travis (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) led off with a double and Tanner Kilgore (Kingsport, Tenn.) followed nicely with a double of his own to score Travis and make it 1-0.
Wise was able to get the first three runners of the third inning to reach. Mason Miller hit into a fielder's choice that scored a run to tie the game. Grif Hughes (Knoxville, Tenn.) came in out of the bullpen and was able to escape the jam for C-N. He struck out two Wise hitters to strand the bases loaded in the third inning.
With Hughes limiting the Cavs threat, that gave the Eagles momentum heading to the fourth inning. Trey Miller and Spencer Williams recorded consecutive doubles to regain a two-run lead. After a Wise pitching change, Dalton McLain (Greeneville, Tenn.) homered for the first time this season, sending a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to cap a four-run fourth.
The Cavs answered in the bottom of the inning. Three straight RBI base hits trimmed the C-N lead to just one run after four innings.
Carson-Newman's second home run of the day came from Kilgore, who launched his first career dinger over the left field wall to start the fifth inning. Aiden Gibson (Cleveland, Tenn.) followed the leadoff home run with a double and later scored on Miller's second RBI hit of the day to increase the Eagles lead to 7-4.
Wise was able to score a run after a throwing error in the bottom of the sixth and it was 7-5. The Cavs got the first two runners of the seventh inning on base and Justin Ruehling singled to left field to make it a one-run game with no one out. After Braden Williams got a fly out, Hunter Harritan (Huntersville, N.C.) entered the game and shut the door. He struck out two Wise hitters on a combined seven pitches to keep Carson-Newman ahead 7-6 after seven innings.
" was huge," Griffin said. "They were feeling really good with the situation, and Hunter had a really short memory. Hunter and Spencer worked really well together and that was a critical part of ensuring us this victory."
Kilgore continued his red-hot day at the place, driving in two more runs on a one-out double down the left field line in the top of the eighth inning.
Harritan went three up three down in the eighth inning and C-N found insurance in the ninth.
Travis crushed his third home run of the season over the left field wall to make it 10-6. The infielder now has 15 career dingers in his Eagles career.
UVA Wise did threaten to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the ninth. Runners were on the corners with one out and Harritan recorded his third strikeout of the game and got a fly ball out to blank the Cavs in the final inning.
The right-hander fired 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball to record his fourth save of the season. He limited the Cavs to just two hits in the final third of the game.
Hughes earned his fourth win on the mound throwing 1 2/3 innings allowing three runs. Andrew Bench made his first career start and went 2 1/3 innings allowing three hits and no earned runs striking out three.
Carson-Newman will have one-day off before returning to action on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when it hosts Lee at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. Fans can watch the game on FloSports with a paid subscription and an audio-only stream is available on cneagles.com/live.
