BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Carson-Newman (19-5) sophomore pitcher Kalyn Davis (Danville, Ky.) pitched her second no-hitter of the season to help propel the Eagles to a pair of run-rule victories, 8-0 and 9-0, both in five innings, Tuesday afternoon at Bluefield State (0-11).
Davis' no-no came in game two when she only allowed two baserunners (both on walks).
"She is just so effective at keeping the ball down, and if not for a couple walks, she's got a perfect game," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "She got ahead in the count and produced a lot of ground balls."
But the success wasn't just limited to Davis. Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.) continued her prowess at the plate with a seven-for-eight day including her nation-leading and school-record-tying sixth triple. Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) was flawless at the plate, going five-for-five and reaching base in every plate appearance.
"Kelli is just attacking the ball and finding the hole. Until she got hurt, she was on a roll last year," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She has added such good discipline at the plate. She does not attack a bad pitch."
Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) also added a three-run bomb to center for the Eagles. She had five runs batted in for the day.
"The three and four hitters were really on today," Kazee-Hollfield said. "Kelley and Hefner pounded back-to-back extra base hits frequently today. It was a nice complete game performance offense and defense."
Game one: Carson-Newman 8, Bluefield State 0 (five innings)
Carson-Newman wasted little time racing out of the gates offensively in game one of the doubleheader. The Eagles plated six runs in the frame, three of which came on Kelley's team-leading fourth home run of the season. The moon shot cleared the wall in center.
The Eagles rounded out their scoring in the inning on RBI singles from Elayana Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.), Jessica Morgan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Hensley.
Carson-Newman added its seventh run in the second on a Lance RBI double to center.
The Eagles put the run rule on in the fifth after Hensley cranked her sixth triple of the season into center and came into score on a Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) sacrifice fly.
Sarah Howard pulled in the win in the circle to improve to 8-3 on the year. She struck out five batters for a fifth time this season against zero walks. Howard only allowed three hits in her third shutout of the season.
Game two: Carson-Newman 9, Bluefield State 0 (five innings)
Again, Carson-Newman's bats cranked into high gear early to put the game out of reach from the Blues. The Eagles batted around and dropped an eight-run bomb on Bluefield in the second inning.
The frame featured freshman Hannah Morrison's (Jasper, Tenn.) first two hits of her career and the first two RBI of her career. She produced runs off a single to right and a double to left center.
Kelley's single to center was then only hit of the inning that produced multiple RBI. Carson-Newman had 10 hits that inning, only Morrison and Brittany Hefner (Talbott, Tenn.) hit for extra bases.
Lance produced the final run of the game in the fifth off a single to center to extend the lead to 9-0.
Even with Davis' no-hitter, the sophomore pitcher still faced the minimum. Davis walked a pair of batters, one of whom was erased caught stealing 2-6, the other – Chelsea Duncan – was sent down on a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Davis struck out two. However, where she was most effective was producing ground ball outs. Of the 11 balls hit into play on her, Davis retired 10 via a ground out.
The win moves her to 9-2 on the year.
Carson-Newman's Wednesday doubleheader at King has been postponed, a makeup date has not been set.
The Eagles return home Saturday to face Coker at 1p.m. A free HD stream will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
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