HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Carson-Newman (30-20) grabbed an early lead, but top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne (45-9) pounded C-N late to earn a walk-off, run-rule 10-2 win and advance in the winner's bracket.
Carson-Newman falls into the loser's bracket and plays Wingate in an elimination game Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Carson-Newman wasted little time scoring first against the Bears. Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) led off the game with a base on balls. A Shon Jordan (Hermitage, Tenn.) sacrifice moved her over to second for Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.), who singled up the middle to get both base runners into scoring position.
Lindsay Dean (Coeburn, Va.) took advantage of the situation by dropping a base hit down the left field line to plate both Toppel and Siebert and put the Eagles up 2-0.
After that, it was all Bears.
Lenoir-Rhyne got a run back in the bottom of the first on a Madison Carter RBI single up the gut before a strike out swinging ended the threat.
The Bears evened the score in the third after a substantial delay to repair the pitcher's landing point in the circle. With two out, Carter doubled to left center to drive in her second run of the day.
Carter gave the Bears the lead in the fifth with her third RBI of the day, a single to right. With two on, Sara Kenley yanked a bomb to left center to put L-R up 6-2.
The Bears then ended things early in the sixth with a second straight four-run frame. The Eagles pulled starter Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) at the start of the frame. Danielle Kranz (Fairfield, Calif.) gave up two walks, then a strikeout before another walk loaded the bases.
Two wild pitches brought in a pair of runs for the Bears before Ashley Oliver ended things early with a two-RBI single.
Webster took the loss for C-N, falling to 20-12. She gave up eight hits with six earned runs, a trio of bases on balls and six strikeouts.
Kranz gave up four runs off four walks without allowing a hit.
Emily Kenley got the start for the Bears and gave up two hits and two runs in the first third of an inning. Maryann Hoskins entered to throw 5.2 innings of shutout, three-hit relief work to get the win and move to 18-6.
Lindsay Dean (Coeburn, Va.) led the Eagles offense with a pair of hits and a pair of runs batted in. Carter went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Bears. Kenley also added a trio of RBI with a 1-for-3 day at the plate.
Carson-Newman plays Wingate in an elimination game at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
