C-N Game Notes
VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview
Carson-Newman and Coker meet for the 13th time on Sunday. The teams have split doubleheaders the last two get-togethers.
The first seven meetings in the series came in meetings in either NAIA or NCAA postseason play.
Defense has dominated in the series, of the 12 previous meetings, eight have involved a shutout, including six of the last seven.
However, that trend may come to an end this year. The matchup features two of the most potent offenses in the league. C-N leads the SAC in batting avg (.355) and runs (167). The Cobras are second in batting avg (.337) and fourth in runs scored (113). Carson-Newman is fourth in the nation in runs per game (9.29) and ninth in batting average.
"We will have to pitch very well," head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We need to get outs before we get to their big sticks in the lineup. We'll have to put some runs up on the board and be very active defensively."
Brooke Ramsey (San Mateo, Calif.) and Bre Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) have led the charge offensively. Ramsey's 25 runs batted in are good for 18th in the nation. Meanwhile, Lockett has the best batting average in the SAC (.540) and the 27th best tally in the country.
Conference openers haven't been kind to Carson-Newman of late. The Eagles haven't swept a conference-opening doubleheader since taking two from Catawba in 2010. The Eagles have either split or been swept each of the last four season (including a split last year with Coker).
"Every time you step out and play a conference game," Kazee-Hollifield said. "You're playing for a title. We've made strides, but we have to keep it as clean as we can because defense wins championships. It's coming slowly but surely."
The Eagles continue their string of eight games in five days Monday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader in nonconference play against Erskine.
Erskine goes for a third straight win on Carson-Newman, something the Flying Fleet has never been able to accomplish. EC had never swept a doubleheader versus C-N prior to its 2-0, 5-4 sweep of C-N earlier this season.
Defense hurt Carson-Newman in the meetings earlier this year. The Eagles made eight errors on the doubleheader. Of the seven runs the Flying Fleet scored, only three were earned.
The Flying Fleet is 2-6 against South Atlantic Conference competion this season. The Eagles account for Erskine's two wins against the SAC.
Live stats for the contest with Coker can be found at cokercobras.com. Monday's double dip with Erskine will be available on the Eagle Sports Network with a free high definition stream at cneagles.com/live. Track both contests on Twitter by following @cnathletics.
