JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In the midst of a four-game losing streak, Carson-Newman (18-12, 4-2 South Atlantic Conference) will look to avoid matching the program's school record for consecutive losses when it travels to Brevard (11-21, 1-5 SAC) and Erskine (20-10, 10-0 Conference Carolinas) for a pair of midweek contests.
The Eagles play Brevard Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the BC Softball Field before venturing to Due West, S.C. at 2 in the afternoon Wednesday to play the Flying Fleet at the Erskine Softball Complex.
Carson-Newman has lost four in-a-row, albeit four in-a-row to top-flight competition. The Eagles were swept by Georgia College, a team receiving votes in the NFCA poll, Wednesday before dropping two to Catawba, one of two unbeaten in the SAC, Friday.
In the program's 31-year history, this is just the fifth four-game losing streak the program has undergone. Carson-Newman is trying to avoid matching the school record for consecutive losses - a five game streak in 2012 with losses to Wingate, Augusta (twice) and Lenoir-Rhyne (twice).
Carson-Newman has delivered in the pitching circle its last four outings; however, the Eagles haven't had the run support to back up the fireballs in the circle. After an 11-run outburst in a run-rule win over Mars Hill, the Eagles have plated just three runs over their last four contests.
Last week Carson-Newman had four players who were on season or career-long hitting streaks, now the reverse is true. Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) has one hit in her last 11 at bats, Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) is hitless in her last 13 plate appearances. Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) is 2-for-12 at the plate.
Lindsay Dean (Coeburn, Va.) leads the league in home runs (10) and runs batted in (30) and is Carson-Newman's only player hitting better than .300 over the last four games.
Carson-Newman's offense will have to contend with Brevard and its chief starting pitcher Jamie Hrobak. The hurler is second in the South Atlantic Conference with 177 Ks. She has struck out 13 on three separate occasions.
Meanwhile, Carson-Newman's pitching staff will have to contend with an Erskine club that is exceptionally good on the base paths. The Flying Fleet is 12th in the country with 2.48 stolen bases a game. Carson-Newman is coming off a doubleheader with Catawba where they gave up nine swipes.
Attributing to the effort on the base paths is Brittany Reynolds. She's sixth in the country with 0.44 sacrifice hits per game.
Carson-Newman's last three wins against the Flying Fleet have come by virtue of a shutout. The Flying Fleet is 6-4 against the SAC this season with splits against Anderson and Newberry, sweeps against LMU and Mars Hill and a sweep at the hands of Wingate.
Follow @Cnathletics on Twitter for updates on both games. Live stats can be found at bctornados.com and erskinesports.com.
