JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (6-4) will make the trek up I-77 to Athens, W.Va. for a Monday doubleheader at Concord (2-2) at 1 p.m.
While the Eagles have had their frustrations hitting the field because of snow, rain and scheduling, the Mountain Lions have likely been beyond exasperated with their schedule.
Concord hasn't seen the field since Feb. 12 when it lost two games in Hickory, N.C. to Lenoir-Rhyne 8-1 and 13-5 in five innings.
"Concord is usually a regionally ranked team year-in and year-out," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "They are always going to bring a solid effort so we'll have to be ready for them, especially playing in our first true road game of the season."
Carson-Newman leads the all-time series with the Mountain Lions 4-0. The teams were initially scheduled to play last season before snow storms blanked the Lakeway Region in Tennessee and the Plateau in West Virginia, necessitating the game's cancellation.
The Mountain Lions are led offensively by Alyssa Morris. Morris has seven hits in 10 at bats and is sluggin 1.500. Of her seven base knocks, four have been for extra bases, including a pair off home runs. She leads Concord with five RBI.
Concord has struggled with driving in runs and getting the timely hit on the young season. Concord has left 30 base runners stranded through four games.
Allie Reid leads the pitching staff. She has a pair of starts, a pair of complete games and a 1-1 record on the year. Reid has a 4.85 ERA. Opponents are hitting .298 off her.
Reid started game one in the circle the last time the teams got together in 2014. Reid was chased from an 8-5 Carson-Newman win after the Eagles bludgeoned her in the third inning. C-N plated seven runs and had 10 hits off her before the Mountain Lions went to the bullpen.
Concord was in control of that contest 4-0 before the Eagles exploded for that seven-run third.
The Eagles are trying to respond from a home doubleheader sweep at the hands of Limestone. The Eagles had been 24-1 all-time against the Saints prior to the two wins Saturday.
Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) rides a career-long six-game hitting streak for the Eagles.
Meanwhile, Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) has produced multi-hit performances in five of Carson-Newman's last six games. She's batting .438 for the year to lead the Eagles.
First pitch between the Eagles and Mountain Lions is set for 1 p.m. Monday. For updates on the games, follow @CNathletics on Twitter.
