YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Carson-Newman (12-4) made nine errors between two games against Georgia College (5-8), but managed a win in the nightcap thanks to some timely doubles Saturday night at E.D. Rivers Field.
The Bobcats took game one 6-2 behind five Carson-Newman errors. The Eagles overcame four miscues in game two to halt a six-game losing streak to the Bobcats with a 5-2 triumph. The nine errors through a doubleheader are the most for the Eagles since at least 2008.
"We were making life tough on ourselves," Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We have to make life easier and it starts on good defense. I'm thankful that we got a win against a very talented team. I hope that that gives us a little momentum and mentally prepares us for what we have to do."
Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) extended her hitting streak out to 16 games, tied for the fourth longest in school history. KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) had multi-RBI performances in game two to help seal the win.
Game One: Georgia College 6, Carson-Newman 2
For the third straight game, Carson-Newman scored a run in the opening inning. Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) was the first Eagle aboard as she got plunked. Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) then dropped down a bunt single to third before Taylor Scott (Huntington, W.Va.) loaded the bases with a base hit to left center.
KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) produced the go-ahead run with a ball stung to left center. Toppel was gunned down trying to come home on the play to score a second run. The Eagles led 1-0 after one.
The lead would be short-lived thanks to a Carson-Newman miscue in the third. With one out, the Bobcats loaded the bases with two base hits and a base on balls. Amber Coy came to the plate and hit a ground ball to third. Sarah Barrett (West Hamlin, W.Va.) tried to come home to get the lead runner, but a throwing error cleared the bases.
A batter later, Faith Flanders plated Coy with a base hit to center, then Deja Lester reached on a dropped fly ball to left that scored Flanders. An RBI groundout from Baylee Hall extended the advantage to 6-1. When the dust cleared, the Bobcats had hung up a six spot, all but two of the runs were unearned.
Carson-Newman looked to make some headway into the deficit in the sixth. Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) and Barrett walked to load the bases. An error at second loaded the bases for Toppel. The junior grounded out, but it was productive as Kennedy Richardson (Elizabethton, Tenn.), who was pinch running for Pritchett, scored on the play. However, a pop up and groundout ended the frame before the Eagles could do more damage.
That was the only threat the Eagles could must, as C-N went down in order in the seventh.
Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) took the hardluck loss for the Eagles to fall to 6-2. She surrendered six runs, only two of which were earned. Webster had four strikeouts against three walks.
Kayla Price got the win for the Bobcats to improve to 2-2. She gave up nine hits on the day.
Carson-Newman had one fewer error than Georgia College had hits, five to six. The Eagles left 11 stranded on base for the game.
Game two: Carson-Newman 5, Georgia College 2
While the Eagles struggled with timely hits in game one, in the third inning, KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) came through with one in a big way. The Eagles loaded the bases with a walk for Barrett, a Fiessinger single to short and a walk for Toppel. A strikeout set the stage for Levi. The freshman ripped a 2-2 pitch to left for a bases-clearing double that put C-N in front 3-0.
The Eagles added to their lead in the sixth. Cheyenne Boles (Knoxville, Tenn.) knocked a one-out single up the middle before Rinus reached on a fielder's choice that featured a fielding error at second that allowed the pinch-running Hailee Garren (Knoxville, Tenn.) to remain on the base paths.
Pritchett clobbered a 2-2 pitch to left center, one-hopping the wall, to clear the bases with a double and extend the lead to 5-0.
Rinus lost a no-hitter in the circle in the sixth Holland Coursey hit a one-out bloop single to left. A batter later, Rinus lost the shutout when Flanders cranked a home run to right center. However, a pop up ended the inning and the Georgia College threat.
The Bobcats threatened to even the score in the seventh thanks to more Carson-Newman miscues. With two outs, Shawnda Martin singled to right, then moved to second when Danielle Bernstein reached on a fielding error at first. However, Rinus struck out Coursey to end the threat and the game.
Rinus improved to 6-2 with the win. She struck out a season-low two, but didn't walk anyone in the win.
Brooke Taylor took the loss in 5.1 innings of work for the Bobcats.
The Eagles are back at home Tuesday against Belmont Abbey. First pitch with the Crusaders is set for 1 p.m. The doubleheader will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
