Casson’s 13-strikeout complete game lifts Eagles to series win over Wise

No. 16/9 Carson-Newman (26-8, 15-3 SAC) got another wonderful pitching performance from Kolton Casson to win its sixth conference series of the season, splitting a doubleheader with UVA Wise (21-15, 10-11 SAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.

Casson’s 13-strikeout complete game lifts Eagles to series win over Wise
March 29, 2025

VIDEO: Game Two Highlights

VIDEO: Tom Griffin Interview

VIDEO: Kolton Casson Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 16/9 Carson-Newman (26-8, 15-3 SAC) got another wonderful pitching performance from Kolton Casson to win its sixth conference series of the season, splitting a doubleheader with UVA Wise (21-15, 10-11 SAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.

"Kolton Casson, man what a dude," Carson-Newman baseball head coach Tom Griffin said. "That was amazing because the offense was "gave me agita" to be honest. You got to win series, we found a way to win a series but we didn't play great. Kolton was the real deal and we hung in there."

The Eagles maintain first place in the South Atlantic Conference with the series win by splitting the doubleheader. They have won 15 of their 18 league games and all six series. Overall, C-N is 8-0 in series this season.

Game One: UVA Wise 5, Carson-Newman 1

Like yesterday's series opener, both offenses needed some time to settle in.

The Eagles had a good chance to score first in the bottom of the second. They loaded the bases with one out but popped out consecutive times to strand the runners.

Getting out of that inning, UVA Wise used that momentum to take the lead. Jeb Hurst launched a home run over the left field wall to make it 2-0 after three innings.

Ryan Jenkins (Winter Haven, Fla.) put C-N on the board in the fifth inning. He launched his third home run of the season over the left field wall to make it a one-run game after five.

The Cavaliers responded right back. Joshua Morgan led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to make it 3-1.

After C-N left two more on base in the sixth, UVA Wise would tack on two more runs in the seventh inning. DJ Dickson crushed a two-run home run to push the advantage to 5-1.

More opportunities came C-N's way in the seventh and eighth innings. It put runners in scoring position with two outs but left them on base. Next inning, Wise walked the bases loaded and the Eagles failed to take advantage.

Carson-Newman finished the game going 0-11 with runners in scoring position and two for 19 at the plate with runners on base. The Eagles matched their season-high, leaving 13 runners on base and was held to their third-fewest hits in a game this season.

Ethan Willis and Ryan Whitson combined for 4.2 scoreless relief innings and allowed just two hits. Willis earned his second win of the year and Whitson saved his fourth game of the year.

Game Two: Carson-Newman 5, UVA Wise 1

The Cavaliers struck first on a leadoff home run on the fourth pitch of the game as Nick Badgett left the yard.

C-N would erase its game one offensive effort quickly away from memory in the bottom of the first. The Eagles recorded four consecutive singles to start the inning, the latter two of which came from Logan Floyd (Adairsville, Ga.) and Tanner Kilgore (Kingsport, Tenn.) to drive in runs. Carson-Newman would get three more singles later in the first with two outs, two of which plated runs and it was 4-1 Eagles after the first frame.

Casson would settle in to his ninth start. He would allow at least one base hit in each of the next four frames but had timely strikeouts and good defense behind him to toss three straight zeros.

Floyd extended C-N's advantage in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, the sophomore doubled into the right center field gap to make it a 5-1 game.

The freshman starting pitcher would get better as the game went on. He sent down the Cavaliers in order in both the fifth and sixth innings which featured four strikeouts to keep the margin where it was.

Nearing 100 pitches, Casson would head back to the mound for the seventh inning. After a strikeout to begin the inning, Wise provided some pressure in the ninth with a pair of one-out singles. Casson locked in and bared down to strikeout back to back hitters on his 115th and 120th pitches to strike out the side in the seventh and finish off the series win.

In nine career starts, Casson wins his DII-leading ninth game after his fourth complete game of the year. In seven innings of work, the rookie scattered eight hits and recorded career-high 13 strikeouts.

"He has great stuff but he has intestinal fortitude," Griffin said. "He is a mentality tough kid. Steve Cishek said his demeanor is amazing, he has such presence on the mound. You don't know if he is up 3-0 or down 3-0. That is a mentality tough kid. He knows he is always in control."

Floyd led the Eagles offense with two hits and two RBI. Jenkins also finished with a two-hit effort in the finale.

Wise starting pitcher Houston Sarvis went the distance, allowing ten hits and five runs with seven strikeouts to suffer his third loss of the year.

Carson-Newman is back in action on Tuesday after at Alabama Huntsville at 3:00 p.m.