BELMONT, N.C. – Carson-Newman (2-0) saw Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) go 4-for-7 and Bri Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) 3-for-6 at the dish with a home run as the Eagles eked out 5-4 and 3-1 victories over Belmont Abbey (0-2) to improve to 26-2 in opening day games.
"I'm always thrilled to get two wins on day one," coach Kazee-Hollifield said. "Two ladies hit the ball well today in Elayna and Bri Lockett. I was happy to see two freshman finish their games in the circle today, but we've got to cut down on walking people. I hope by Saturday we're looking a little more fluid defensively. Belmont Abbey is a much improved ball team."
C-N got a pair of complete-game performances from its freshman pitchers to help it to the win. Danielle Kranz (Fairfield, Calif.) struck out seven batters in game one in the complete-game victory while Lindsay Dean (Coeburn, Va.) fanned three against just one out en route to a one-run game.
"I've got to remember that we've got six new starters out there," Kazee-Hollifield said. "Some growing pains are expected and I'm just thrilled we pick up a win."
The Eagles left 18 runners stranded between the two games in the doubleheader.
Game one: Carson-Newman 5, Belmont Abbey 4
Carson-Newman got the scoring started in the third inning after Elayna Sibert (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled down the rightfield line. Brooke Ramsey (San Mateo, Calif.) doubled to left center to plate Siebert and put the Eagles on the board.
Belmont Abbey countered in the bottom of the frame. A trio of walks and a hit-by-pitch helped the Crusaders bring in a run.
The Eagles would retake the lead in the fifth. Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) walked to lead off the inning. Siebert promptly scored her with a double to right. Siebert then came around after Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.) ripped a double to left center. Katlin Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) rounded out the scoring in the inning with a single to right to plate Ramsey and put the Eagles ahead 4-1.
The Crusaders cracked back in the bottom of the inning when Toppel made a two-base throwing error at short that allowed Shanie McConnell to score from second with two outs and bring the Crusaders within two runs, 4-2.
Carson-Newman pushed the lead out in the top of the sixth when Siebert cranked a two-out solo shot over the fence in right to make the score 5-2.
Belmont Abbey would bounce back in the bottom of the frame. Nicole Stovall was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a Brooke Pegram single. Stovall then stole third and came in to score on a McConnell sacrifice fly to right.
The Crusaders would have an opportunity to win the game in the seventh. BAC started the inning with a walk, a single and a walk. With the bases loaded, Mackenzie Dziendziel grounded into a fielder's choice to score a run. With one out and runner's on second and third, Katherine Starnes grounded into a rare, 6-3-4 double play to end the game.
Danielle Kranz collected the win in the circle for C-N to start her career 1-0.
Game two: Carson-Newman 3, Belmont Abbey 1
Carson-Newman got the offense rolling early in the first inning after Fiame reached third on a fielding error by the Crusaders' second baseman. Ramsey made BAC pay for the miscue by lacing a single down the leftfield line to plate Fiame.
Belmont Abbey evened things up with C-N in the bottom of the frame. Pegrame led off with a single to left and then stole second. McConnell drove her home on a hot shot up the gut.
The tie game would be short-lived, however. After Jessica Morgan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) reached on a fielder's choice at the bottom of the order, Fiame strode to the plate and planted a double to left to drive in her first run of the season.
The offenses went quiet over the next 2.5 innings. However, the Eagles were able to add an insurance run in the fifth. A Toppel one-out double to center followed by a Siebert single to short gave the Eagles runners on the corners. That allowed Sarah Howard (Georgetown, Ky.) to float a ball into left to bring Toppel around to make it a 3-1 ball game. Belmont Abbey would only get one base runner into scoring position the rest of the way.
Dean moves to 1-0 on the season after scattering seven hits in the contest. She tossed 90 pitches, 56 of which were strikes.
Faust took the loss for BAC after allowing all three runs in the first five innings.
Carson-Newman opens up home play at the Vick Saturday against Bluefield State. The doubleheader gets rolling at 1 p.m. with HD coverage available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
