SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Carson-Newman (13-5) dropped a pair of games Saturday at the Mid-South Classic. The Eagles fell to no. 6 Armstrong Atlantic 3-0 and UNC Pembroke 5-4.
The Eagles left 17 runners stranded between the two games.
"Today we just ventured into the land of missed opportunities," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "You have to be able to take advantage of base runners on second and third with less than two outs. We did not do that today. I hate to have let these opportunities go by the wayside against some really good regional competition."
Kelli Hensely (Knoxville, Tenn.) saw her 19-game hit streak come to an end against Armstrong Atlantic.
Game one: No. 6 Armstrong Atlantic 3, Carson-Newman 0
The Eagles were shutout for the first time this season by Pirate pitcher Ollivia McLemore, who fanned four Eagles.
The Pirates got the run they need to pick up the win on a Kat Vogler homer to center in the third inning.
Armstrong would add insurance runs in the fourth and seventh innings. Alexis Mercer singled to left center to drive in Vogler who tripled to lead off the fourth. Then, in the seventh, Mercer doubled to lead off the frame and came in to score on a Lacye Walker sac fly.
The Eagles had their best threat in the fifth inning. The Eagles loaded the bases with one out, but couldn't produce any runs after a fielder's choice and a Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) line out to the third baseman.
Sarah Howard took the loss to fall to 6-3 on the year. Howard walked three and struck out three in a complete game.
Game two: UNC Pembroke 5, Carson-Newman 4
Defensive errors doomed the Eagles against the Braves. Carson-Newman made five errors. Of the Braves' five runs, only one was earned.
C-N got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning with a Brittany Hefner (Talbott, Tenn.) RBI single through the left side.
The Braves would counter back in the second on an inning extended by three Eagle errors. The Braves got back-to-back baserunners on thanks to errors on Hefner at short and Morgan at second.
Those miscues set the stage for back-to-back singles through the left side for Karlee Wilson and Morgan Davis to drive in the tying and go ahead runs. A throwing error by Hayley Burnette (Rossville, Ga.) enabled Brea Hartley to score to give the Braves a two-run cushion.
UNCP would tag on another run in the fourth after Megan Hilliard tripled and Hartley drove her in with a single.
The Eagles would counter with a three-run bottom half of the fourth to tie the game.
C-N loaded the bases after a Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) walk and singles from Burnette and Morgan. Siebert ripped a line drive through the left side to bring Lance and Burnette in and pull the Eagles within a run. Hensley popped up to leftfield to allow Morgan to tag up and score to tie the game.
UNCP retook the lead in the fifth, however, on a Cloniger sacrifice fly.
The Eagles had the tying run on third in the sixth and on second in the seventh, but could not bring it across.
Kalyn Davis took the loss in the circle.
The Eagles will look to halt a four-game losing streak Tuesday against Concord.
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