Vickee Kazee-Hollifield interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (0-0) cranks open the 2014 Thursday at the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex season looking to continue its offensive prowess from a year ago. The Eagles belted 49 home runs as a club a year ago with eight different players who hit .300 or better.
"We're looking forward to it and the kids are ready to lace them up and play," Kazee-Hollifield said. "Anytime you go out for the first time, I feel sorry for any coach because we know what we want to expect, but it's always difficult to get that."
C-N is 21-3 in opening game contests since 1990. The Eagles only losses are to Bellarmine (2011), Anderson (2000) and Radford (1997). Carson-Newman hasn't dropped a home opener in a decade.
"I'll take that record and I'll take it for the next 25 games as well," Kazee-Hollifield said. "I hope we're serious about it and I think this team has some confidence based on how it practiced and played in the fall."
Not only are the Eagles impressive in game one, but they've also picked up doubleheader sweeps to start out the season in every year with the exception of 2006 (and the aforementioned years featuring an opening game loss) when they dropped the second game of a doubleheader to Bellarmine.
Lees-McRae
Standing in the way on opening day is Lees-McRae (0-4). The Bobcats have been run-ruled in their first four games of the year. They fell 11-1 and 10-2 to Newberry before falling 8-0 and 10-0 to No. 20 Anderson. LMC has been outhit 41-9 on the year.
The Eagles picked up a sweep of the Bobcats last year in a contest where Brittany Hefner (Talbott, Tenn.) matched a school record for most RBI in a single game with eight. C-N owns a 28-2 record all-time against the Bobcats in a series that dates back to 1997. The Eagles have won four straight in the series.
This marks the third time the Eagles will play an opening day doubleheader with LMC (2010 and 2002). C-N has outscored the Bobcats 29-1 all-time on the first day of the season.
First pitch with the Bobcats is set for 1 p.m. Thursday. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 12:55 p.m. online at cneagles.com/live.
Fort Valley State
Following the Lees-McRae game, the Eagles hit the road to take on Fort Valley State (0-5) in the first meeting between the two programs. The Wildcats have also been run-ruled in every game of the season thus far and come in off a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Brewton-Parker 11-0 and 8-0.
The Wildcats average 3.2 errors a contest on the young season. Only 25 of the 52 runs that have crossed the plate against them this season have been earned.
This will be Carson-Newman's first meeting with a SIAC school since a 5-1 loss to LeMoyne in 2012.
The Wildcats earned a SIAC title in 2011 before coming up a game shy of a championship bid in 2012. They finished fourth in the SIAC east division last season.
First pitch for the Eagles' first road game Friday is slated for 1 p.m.
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