JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (2-2) will try to put a stop to an early season skid when it welcomes North Greenville (3-1) to the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex for a Wednesday afternoon twinbill at 1.
Carson-Newman dropped a pair of 3-1 decisions to Concord late in both games on Saturday. Carson-Newman's sweep at home at the hands of Concord was the first time Carson-Newman had lost both sides of a home nonconference doubleheader since Georgia College took a pair from the Eagles last season. It marked the first time ever Carson-Newman had been swept by a team from the Mountain East.
West Virginia State swept Carson-Newman in 2009. The Yellow Jackets are also members of the Mountain East, but in 2009, they were a part of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the forbearer for the MEC.
"We have to make adjustments with our hitting and our short game (bunting)," head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We have to be able to put a bunt down and do so one through nine in the order. Then at the same time, we have to make adjustments with the bat. We have to adjust to hit the line drive when you're hitting long fly balls to the fence."
Carson-Newman hasn't laid down a sacrifice bunt yet this season.
The Eagles were a paltry 3-for-20 at the plate with runners on base against the Mountain Lions. C-N went 1-or-15 with runners in scoring position and saw the Mountain Lions turn five double plays against them in the doubleheader.
Carson-Newman leads the all-time series with NGU 18-2, but the team's split last year's doubleheader. C-N won game won 4-1 before the Crusaders took the nightcap 6-2.
North Greenville was picked fifth in the 11-team Conference Carolinas in the league's preseason poll. NGU did pick up one first-place vote. The Crusaders are one of six teams from the conference the Eagles will play this season. Carson-Newman is 30-6 against the league since 2014. The Crusaders account for one of those losses.
"They aren't going to do anything defensively to hurt themselves." Kazee-Hollifield said. "They have three different pitchers that can give you three different looks. They have a deep and talented pitching staff."
Carson-Newman is 6-0 all-time against the Crusaders at The Vick. The Eagles are averaging 6.83 runs per game against NGU all-time at home.
NGU opened up the season with a sweep of Chowan at home before splitting with Francis Marion in Florence, S.C.
Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) is off to a hot start for her Carson-Newman career. The freshman's .500 average is the best mark on the team while her seven runs batted in lead the South Atlantic Conference.
With 26 combined strikeouts, Carson-Newman's pitching staff of Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) and Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) ranks as the top team in the South Atlantic Conference. Webster has struck out 15 while Rinus has sat down 11. They have only walked three batters.
First pitch Wednesday is set for 1 p.m. from The Vick. The contests will be available on the Eagle Sports Network with a free high definition stream at cneagles.com/live.
