VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After a 1-3 start to the month of March, Carson-Newman (15-7) is back at The Vick looking for some good vibes against Bluefield State (0-8). The Eagles and Big Blues play two Thursday at noon.
"What we're trying to do is build consistency," head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We're trying to get to where we're playing for all seven innings these next three doubleheaders to get ready for our first conference doubleheader against Queens next Saturday."
Carson-Newman has thrashed Bluefield State through the first 14 meetings. The Eagles have outscored the Big Blues 153-12 en route to a 14-0 lead in the series.
There have only been two meetings off the 14 where Carson-Newman hasn't run-ruled the Big Blues. C-N won the first game of the series 4-0 in 2004 and squeaked out a 4-2 win in 2007.
The high watermark win came in 2015 when C-N won 26-1. That game featured the fourth most runs scored in school history and the third largest margin of victory.
Bre Lockett set a school record with three home runs, nine RBI and 13 total bases that game. Lockett and Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) each scored five runs, matching a school record.
C-N put up the third most hits in school history (22), tied the record for home runs (five),
Bluefield State has struggled in general in 2017. The Blues have been outscored 129-9 en route to an 0-8 start. BSC has been run-ruled in all but one game this season (an 11-5 loss to Lincoln).
It has allowed at least 10 runs in all but one game this year (a 9-1 loss to open the season to Asbury).
The Blues have struck out more (50) than they have hits and total bases (25 and 29).
Of Bluefield State's 25 base hits, four have been for extra bases. Lauryn Hatfield has two doubles. Emily Day and Lyndsey Hatfield have one a piece.
BSC pitcher Emily Day is 7th nationally with 10.25 strikeouts per seven innings. However, in spite of the impressive strikeout per seven innings mark, Day still sports a 9.92 ERA. She has allowed 49 hits in 24.0 innings pitched.
Carson-Newman's offense has been fairly impressive in 2017. C-N is averaging 5.7 runs per game with a team batting average of .322, which is fourth in the league. Five of the Eagles' regulars hit better than .300. Three more are hovering above .280.
First pitch between the Eagles and Big Blues is set for noon Thursday. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
