Carson-Newman Splits SAC Doubleheader at Newberry

NEWBERRY, S.C. — The Carson-Newman softball team split with Newberry on Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference action in Newberry, S.C.. The Lady Eagles dropped game one, 1-0, before bouncing back to claim a 7-1 victory in the nightcap.

With the split, C-N is now 30-7 on the season and 8-4 in the conference. Newberry moves to 26-10 overall and 6-6 in SAC play.

In game one, Newberry's Felicia Taylor delivered a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning that proved to be the game winner.

C-N was unable to answer as it managed just two hits during the final three innings.

The Lady Eagles tallied six hits in the game, including two by sophomore Cassidy Skeen (Powell, Tenn.).

Newberry collected five hits in the win. Aissa Gatewood led the way with two hits.

The scarlet and gray received a stellar effort from starting pitcher Amanda Huckestein. The senior right-hander earned the shutout win after giving up six hits and striking out 11 in seven innings of work.

C-N starter Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was tagged with the loss despite allowing just five hits and one run in six innings in the circle.

The Lady Eagles bounced back in the second game as they pounded out 11 hits on their way to a 7-1 victory.

Senior Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.) and freshman Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) each tallied two hits and two RBIs to lead C-N. Sophomore Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) added a solo home run.

Shealy (10-4) also got the job done in the circle for the Lady Eagles as she surrendered five hits and one run and fanned six in seven innings for the win.

Whitney Wiles collected two hits for Newberry.

Huckestein (16-6) picked up the loss after allowing four runs and four hits in two innings of work.

The Lady Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first, as Howard singled to lead off the inning, stole second and later scored on a Sara Little (Calhoun, Ga.) single to right field.

C-N pushed its lead to 4-0 with a three-run outburst in the second, highlighted by a two-run double by Shoemake.

Howard then delivered a two-run single in the third to give the Lady Eagles a 6-0 cushion, and Shealy added an insurance run in the seventh as she led off the frame with a solo blast to left field.

The Lady Eagles return to the diamond on Wednesday at home against Brevard. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.