HARROGATE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (27-11, 6-6 SAC) used a seven-run inning in game two to pick up a doubleheader split against Lincoln Memorial (22-11, 8-4 SAC) Tuesday afternoon at Neely Field.
LMU shut out the Eagles 4-0 in game one before the Eagles' bats came to life for a 9-5 win in game two.
"Game one was the result of a lack of hitting and defense," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "I thought we pitched well enough today to win both games, but our defense certainly lacked in the first outing."
Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) got the nod in the circle in game two and helped handcuff the Railsplitters just enough to pick up the win
"Game two we made the routine plays, Lyons did a good job of keeping people off balance," Kazee-Hollifield said. "Then once we got the bats going, everything picked up."
Haley Taylor (Jefferson City, Tenn.) and Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) led the Eagles offensively. Kelley drove in three runs while Taylor went three-for-five at the plate with a pair of runs batted in.
"She (Taylor) swung the bat well," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She was crucial for us in a lot of tough spots. What we have to do is build off of this win and be ready for Wingate on Saturday."
Game one: Lincoln Memorial 4, Carson-Newman 0
Errors and untimely hitting spelled Carson-Newman's downfall in game one. Three of LMU's four runs were unearned and the Eagles were just two-for-14 with runners on base. Dating back to the Lenoir-Rhyne series, the Eagles are just three-for-29 with base runners.
LMU got the scoring started in the first thanks in part to one of three Brittany Hefner errors at shortstop. With two out and a pair in scoring position, LMU starting pitcher Sam Smith helped out her own cause with a bases-clearing double down the left field line.
The Railsplitters got their only earned run of the day in the fifth thanks to some gutty base running from speedster Brianna Mulkey. She scored from second on an infield single to third base by Kelly Dreier.
LMU would get its final run on a throwing error by Hefner that allowed Amanda Snow to come in with two out.
The Eagles had their best offensive chance in the final inning. C-N had back-to-back groundouts to begin the inning, but loaded the bases with a hit by pitch and back-to-back singles from Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Haley Taylor (Jefferson City, Tenn.). However, Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) slapped a routine grounder to short to end the game.
Smith collected the win in the circle for LMU, improving to 13-5 after scattering six hits against one strikeout.
Kalyn Davis (Danville, Ky.) was handed her second straight loss to fall to 12-5. She surrendered 10 hits (the fifth time in the last six games the Eagles have allowed 10 hits or more), but only had one earned run cross.
Game two: Carson-Newman 9, LMU 5
The Eagles dented the scoreboard for the first time in 12 innings in the first to take an early lead in game two with the Railsplitters. Hensley led off the game with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a Jeanie Marie Perrucci (Duluth, Ga.) single to left center. Hensley came in on a Hefner sacrifice fly to left to give the Eagles the initial lead.
LMU would get it back in the second thanks to back-to-back doubles to start the frame from Dreier and Smith. With two out, nine-hitter Emily Taricano ripped a single to third and scored Smith to give the Railsplitters a 2-1 lead.
However, the Eagles would answer the bell in the fourth with a three-run frame. The Eagles started the inning with three straight hits. A Taylor double drove in two to give C-N the lead again. She came in to score on a Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) single to left center.
Carson-Newman would pad its lead in the fifth with a Kelley single to right center.
LMU mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth. The Railsplitter drew within two that inning on a Kristen McAndrew single to second base and then tied the game in the sixth on Jennifer Moose and Mulkey singles.
The Eagles pounced back in the seventh to take game two and snap a three-game skid with two run home runs by Kelley and Audrey Woodby (Knoxville, Tenn.). The bomb from Kelley was her 31st career homer – which moves her two away from tying Sarah Little's all-time school record.
Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) collected her third win in the circle after scattering nine hits and allowing five runs to come across, she struck out two. Kristen Toole took the loss for LMU in relief to fall to 5-5.
C-N takes on Wingate Saturday at the Vick at 1 p.m. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network with a free HD stream at cneagles.com/live.
