VIDEO: Postgame press conference
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (37-13) scored six unanswered runs to rally from a three-run deficit and take a 6-3 decision from GRU Augusta (32-13) in the opening game of the 2015 Southeast Region tournament Friday afternoon at the Peeler Complex.
"We knew we were going to play a very tough team," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We had to pitcher very well from the get go and score runs. You can't get too far down against a team like Augusta. Bre Lockett started the rally for us. It couldn't have happened at a better time."
Carson-Newman, in its 12th NCAA tournament, one its opening game in the region tournament for the first time since beating USC Aiken 6-5 to begin the 2009 tournament. That was also the last time C-N advanced to the Sweet 16 and the Super Regionals.
Lockett (Fontana, Calif.) went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and three RBI to lead the offensive charge for the Eagles. Brooke Ramsey (San Mateo, Calif.) was 2-forr-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI.
Danielle Kranz (Fairfield, Calif.) fanned six in 5.2 innings of relief work to collect the win.
GRU Augusta dented the scoreboard first in the second inning. Sarah Howard (Georgetown, Ky.) issued back-to-back walks to start the inning. After a fly ball to center, Lindsey Stokes ripped a double to the gap in right center to clear the bases and give the Jaguars a 2-0 edge.
A walk and a single loaded the bases before Kranz entered and walked Molly Walton to bring in the third run of the inning. GRU Augusta would not score again.
Carson-Newman began to counter in the third. Jessica Morgan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) walked to lead off the frame and took second on a Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.) sacrifice. Lockett then blasted a ball over the wall to the right of the scoreboard in right center field to bring the Eagles in a run.
Carson-Newman opened up the floodgates in the fourth. Two hit batsmen and a walk loaded the bases for the Eagles before an out was recorded. Up came Lockett; she worked an eight-pitch walk to bring in the tying run in Hannah Williams (Black Mountain, N.C.).
Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) then nipped a ball to left center to send the Eagles station to station and give C-N a 4-3 lead.
Ramsey added to the Eagles' advantage with a two-RBI single to right field.
Carson-Newman didn't allow a Jaguar baserunner past first the rest of the way as the Eagles cruised to the 6-3 win.
Kranz improved to 14-6 on the year with the win. She worked 5.2 innings of five-hit, shutout ball, striking out six and walking one.
Paige Deschaine was handed her third loss of the year. She got the start for GRUA and surrendered four hits and five runs in 3.1 innings of work. She struck out two, walked three and hit two before giving way to lefty Haley Birkle. Birkle went the final 3.2 innings. She walked four and gave up five hits but allowed just one run to cross.
Carson-Newman will be in action Saturday at 2 in the winner's bracket of the 2015 Southeast Region tournament. The Eagles will face the winner of the matchup between second-seeded and eighth-ranked Georgia College and seventh-seeded and receiving votes Armstrong Atlantic. Coverage of that game will be available at cneagles.com/live with the Eagle Sports Network.
