DUE WEST, S.C. – For the first time in series history, Erskine (4-4) scored a doubleheader sweep over Carson-Newman (4-2) Friday afternoon at the Erskine Softball Complex in Due West, S.C.
The Flying Fleet took game one 2-0 before scoring a comeback win over the Eagles in game two 5-4.
While the Flying Fleet scored seven runs in the series, only three of them were earned thanks to a combined eight errors between the two contests for Carson-Newman.
"Our errors are almost equaling our hits," head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "That's something we'll have to get corrected. We had way too many errors today to be successful. I always say you have to win two of three facets of the game to be successful (pitching, hitting and defense), with maybe some pitching, we didn't have much of anything going today."
The losses also snap a 14-game win streak for the Eagles over Conference Carolinas competition.
"To only give up three earned runs on the day," Kazee-Hollifield said. "And to lose, that's frustrating. It was a bad day. We've got to toughen up and be ready to play tomorrow. We'll see how tough we are tomorrow against Limestone."
Game one: Erskine 2, C-N 0
Danielle Kranz' (Fairfield, Calif.) 10 strikeouts weren't enough as the Eagles couldn't get timely hits. Back-to-back-to-back errors by shortstop Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) in the fourth inning allowed the deciding runs to cross for the Flying Fleet.
After Carson-Newman left the bases loaded in the top half of the fourth, Erskine made the Eagles pay for stranding runners.
With two out and a runner on first, Christine Lo reached on an error by Toppel at short. Gabby Kiesle was able to climb aboard on another error that brought in Lydia Trexle. A third error on a ball hit by Brook Rhine let the second run of the inning score for the Flying Fleet when Lo was able to scamper in unearned.
Carson-Newman saw its next nine batters retired in order. However, the Eagles had a shot at extending the game as they came down to their last out. Kaitlin Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) singled, then Jessica Morgan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) walked to put the tying run on and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. However, Talisa Fiame (Pacifica, Calif.) struck out to end the game.
Kranz took hard luck loss to fall to 2-1 on the season. Her 10 strikeouts are the most by an Eagle since Mary Shealey fanned 10 Railsplitters in a game in the South Atlantic Conference tournament on Apr. 22, 2011. She only walked three and allowed three hits. Both runs that scored on Kranz were unearned.
Danica Newton collected the win for the Flying Fleet to move to 1-2 on the year. She fanned nine against two walks in the complete game victory. Carson-Newman registered six hits off her.
Game two: Erskine 5, Carson-Newman 4
Brittany Reynolds got the scoring started in game two for the Flying Fleet by cramming a solo shot over the fence to give Erskine a 1-0 lead in the first frame.
The Eagles were able to take the lead in the third off a two-out, two-RBI double from Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.). C-N then padded its advantage in the fourth when Brooke Ramsey (San Mateo, Calif.) homered to lead off the inning, then Toppel singled to bring home Bre Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) who was in position to score because of a couple Flying Fleet errors.
The Eagles defense stiffened for the next two innings. However, in the sixth, the Flying Fleet broke through.
The Flying Fleet started the frame with back-to-back singles before Trexler was able to reach on a fielder's choice to load the bases because of an error by C-N second baseman Morgan. Gabby Keisler went yard to give the Flying Fleet the lead and, eventually, the game with one swing of the bat.
Carson-Newman got the tying run to second in the seventh inning, but a strikeout by Dean and a groundout by Ramsey ended the contest.
Lindsay Dean (Coeburn, Va.) took the loss in the circle for C-N after tossing five strikeouts in the complete game. Only three of the five runs she allowed were earned.
Candace Fitch grabbed the win for the Flying Fleet in relief to move to 2-1 on the season. Kaylin White earned the save. Fitch and White hurled 3.0 innings of two-hit shutout ball to close the game.
Carson-Newman stays on the road to face Limestone Saturday. First pitch for the doubleheader is 1 p.m. from Gaffney, S.C.
