GAFFNEY, S.C. – Carson-Newman's offense struggled Saturday afternoon during a double header sweep from Limestone as the Eagles tallied just nine hits for four runs in a pair of 12-4 and 3-1 losses for only its second series-sweep of the season.
Carson-Newman (14-6) was led on the offensive end by junior Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) and freshman KaraLynee Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) as the duo picked up two hits and with two RBIs apiece on the day.
Following a rough go to begin game one, Ali Webster was replaced by Heather Foreman (Knoxville, Tenn.) who pitched the final 4.2 innings in the circle—surrendering five runs off eight hits. Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) rebounded in game two for the Eagles, surrendering only three runs in seven innings to give the ball club a chance in the two-run loss.
In all, Carson-Newman's offense was outscored by 10 runs and out-hit by 10 in the losses Saturday afternoon.
Game one: Limestone 12, Carson-Newman 4 (six innings)
Limestone struck early and withstood one big Carson-Newman inning to collect a run-rule win in the opener.
The Saints pounced on Carson-Newman started Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) lighting her up for seven runs in the first inning. Webster gave up her first home run of the season, a grand slam to center from Sydney Turner off a 2-2 pitch. Webster wound up walking four in the frame before she was chased. Limestone saw Tessa Faucette steal home, Sam Thornton hit an RBI double and Macy Hart knock an RBI single up the middle to complete the scoring in the inning.
Heather Foreman (Knoxville, Tenn.) generated the final out of the inning for the Carson-Newman pitching staff.
Carson-Newman got four runs back in the second all with two outs. Cheyenne Boles (Knoxville, Tenn.) led off the inning with a walk before a pair of strikeouts put two outs on the board. Sarah Barrett (West Hamlin, W.Va.) doubled to left center then Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) walked to load the bases.
Toppel dropped a single to right that brought Barrett and Boles in. A Taylor Scott (Huntington, W.Va.) base hit to left brought Fiessinger in. Levi rounded out the scoring with an RBI single to left.
That was it for the Eagles' scoring however. Limestone plated single runs in each of the next three innings, then brought two across in the sixth to end the game early. A Caroline Hill single through the left side provided the Saints with the necessary eight-run cushion to end the game early.
Webster took the loss for the Eagles to fall to 7-3. The senior pitched the first .2 innings, allowing four hits, seven earned runs and four walks before giving way to Foreman. The freshman pitched a career-high 4.2 innings in relief. Limestone knocked in five runs, three earned off her on eight hits and five walks.
Courtney Smith got the win for the Saints to improve to 6-1. She struck out seven, issues five walks and gave up six hits in the victory.
Game two: Limestone 3, Carson-Newman 1
Carson-Newman grabbed the early lead in game two. Toppel got hit by a pitch with one out in the first. She stole second, then raced home when Levi hit a single to left field.
The Eagles' lead was short-lived. The Saints scored two in the bottom of the first with a pair of RBI groundouts. Hill grounded out to the circle with runners on the corners to bring one in. Then, with the bases loaded and one out, Bailey Pearson smoked a shot to first. Scott grabbed it for the force at first, but couldn't put away a runner at the plate and Limestone grabbed the lead 2-1.
The Saints padded their lead in the sixth. Emma Swearingen got hit by a pitch with one out, then Sydney Turner clobbered the first pitch she saw to right for a triple to extend the lead to 3-1.
Carson-Newman started off the seventh with a pop up from Barrett. Ashlyn Cooper (Friendsville, Tenn.) worked a one out walk to give the Eagles a base runner. C-N went to the bench to pinch run Alisa Walker (Knoxville, Tenn.) for Cooper and Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) to pinch hit for Webster.
Pritchett struck out swinging on three pitches. The Eagles again tried to spark something with a pinch hitter with Foreman in place of Kennedy Richardson (Elizabethton, Tenn.). Foreman flied out to left to end the game.
Carson-Newman left five runners stranded and was limited to three hits on the day.
Rinus took the loss to fall to 7-3. She allowed seven hits and struck out three.
Josie Weber got the win for the Saints with seven strikeouts.
The Eagles continue their spring break road swing Sunday at Augusta. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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