HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Carson-Newman (36-11) first team All-SAC pitcher Sarah Howard (Georgetown, Ky.) struck out a career-best eight batters to help guide the Eagles to a 6-2 decision over Coker (24-26) Thursday afternoon at Byerly Park in the first game of the SAC tournament.
"She did a fine job keeping batters off balance," head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "Burnette called a fine game. It's always nice to be on the winner's side fo the bracket. I'm proud of the kids for winning their first game. We hope to be able to do the same thing tomorrow."
C-N's win in its first game of the SAC tournament is its first tournament-opening victory since 2010. The Eagles defeated LMU 6-0 to open that year's tournament.
Bre Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) was 2-for-2 at the plate with a three-run home run, a pair of walks and a pair of stolen bases. Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.) and Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) each had mult-hit days.
Coker pounded out 11 hits on the day but also left 11 runners stranded. The Cobras didn't have a two-out hit and were just 3-for-12 at the plate in RBI opportunities.
Coker opened up scoring in the third when Ashlee Ellen laid down a squeeze bunt with runners on the corners. The ball trickled to the right of the circle and Jill Lewis was able to race home ahead of a tag from C-N catcher Hayley Burnette (Rossville, Ga.).
The Eagles wasted little time responding in the bottom of the inning. A single, a sacrifice and a single gave Carson-Newman runners on the corners as Bre Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) came to the plate. Lockett walloped a 2-2 pitch to left that carried along the line and stayed just inside the foul pole for the junior's 11th home run of the season and her first three-run bomb of the year.
Carson-Newman wasn't done in the frame though. A single, an error and a walk loaded the bases for the Eagles and Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.). The freshman promptly planted a ball over the head of the Cobra's centerfielder to score two and give Carson-Newman a 5-1 advantage.
Coker got a run back in the top of the fifth when honorable mention All-SAC second baseman Taylor Barcomb hit a deep fly to left. Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plain, Tenn.) made the grab, but it allowed Ashley Gallman to tag up from third and score.
Carson-Newman re-extended its lead back to four runs in the sixth. Coker issued Lockett first on a base on balls. She took second on a wild pitch and then came in to score thanks to a ripped double to left center off the wall from Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) to make the score 6-2 Eagles.
Coker tried to rally in the seventh with a one-out single, but Carson-Newman cut the Cobras down with a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and advance the Eagles in the winner's bracket of the SAC tournament.
Howard got the win in the circle to improve to 10-4 on the year off her seventh complete game.
Tabitha Allen, who shut out the Eagles earlier this season, took the loss to drop to 15-17.
The Eagles stay in the winner's bracket of the double elimination tournament. Carson-Newman will play at 12:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of Newberry/Wingate matchup. Coker faces the loser of that game in an elimination game, also at 12:30.
