VIDEO: Cassie Lyons Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in a four-part series breaking down Carson-Newman's 2015 softball team position by position.  Today, Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) helps examine the Eagle outfield.

The Eagles will have to contend with losing All-American Kelli Hensley in the outfield a year after she was named the conference's player of the year while setting school and league records for hits in a season. 

C-N returns Lyons and Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.) among the back three while adding in Bri Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) and Talisa Fiame (Pacifica, Calif.).

"We do have new outfielders," Lyons said. "But we all get along great and that really helps because we have each other's back and that helps us communicate well."   

Lockett transfers in from Bethune-Cookman where she appeared in one game for the Wildcasts in 2014, but did not register any statistics. Prior to B-C, she starred at Citrus College, as a sophomore,  she appeared in 33 games and batted .356 with 5 HR and 27 RBI.  Lockett touted a slugging percentage of .624 and OBP of .437. 

Fiame comes to C-N from College of San Mateo.  As a freshman she hit .399 with 10 home runs, 56 RBI and a .699 slugging percentage.  As a sophomore with CSM, she batted .419 with six dingers, 60 RBI to go along with 20 stolen bases. Fiame was a two-time first team all-conference player at CSM, she earned all-state and academic all-state honors as a sophomore.  She helped CSM to a pair of Coast Conference titles and pair of Northern California championships.

"Bri is a D1 so she knows her game," Lyons said. "She knows what she needs to do and to get done.  Plus she helps motivate us.  I think Talisa is helping to push us too to dive after balls and go the extra mile."   

Lyons batted .296 last season.  She had 16 hits in 54 at bats with four doubles and a homer.  The HR was the first of her career and came against Pfeiffer.  She produced three multi-hit games and four multi-RBI days.  Lyons had the best batting average (.800) for the Eagles with the bases loaded. 

Taylor hit .370 for her junior year with 41 appearances and 30 starts, primarily in centerfield. Taylor had four doubles, four triples (top 25 nationally and third in the SAC) and a home run - an inside-the-parker against Limestone (2/20)

Carson-Newman softball's position previews continue Thursday with a glimpse of the pitching staff.