VIDEO: Vickee Hollifield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – League-leading Carson-Newman (32-8, 11-1 South Atlantic Conference) makes its longest road trip of the year to second-place Coker (33-11, 9-3 SAC) for a showdown Saturday at 1 p.m. at Saleeby-Stokes Field.
Carson-Newman and the Cobras will be wearing pink as a part of an event for breast cancer awareness in support of Marshall softball alum and University of Indianapolis head coach Melissa Frost, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2016.
Kazee-Hollifield and Frost spent several years together as members of the Division II softball committee.
"Missy is a classy lady and a classy coach. She's a dear friend," head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We have a common bond, and that's our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Once we heard what she was going through, it became a prayerful matter for all of us."
On Saturday, a total of 41 teams, from 16 states and 14 athletic conferences will wear the slogan "Faith, Fight, Frost" to show support for Frost and her ongoing battle with breast cancer.
"Softball gives us such a platform," Kazee-Hollifield said. "It starts with the faith, and that's where she gets the fight. I think about her players, assistant and university. We want to dedicate the day to her."
This will be the second time that Carson-Newman softball has donned pink to play for someone battling breast cancer while raising awareness for breast cancer awareness.
The Eagles last wore a jersey with a pink hue on April 16, 2015 for a sweep of Tusculum that clinched Carson-Newman a regular season SAC title. That day, the Eagles wore pink for starting pitcher Sarah Howard's mother, who was battling breast cancer at the time.
Carson-Newman v. Coker is one of the more even series that Carson-Newman has in its record book. Dating back to 1993, neither Carson-Newman nor Coker has pulled off a sweep. C-N leads the all-time series 9-8.
The Cobras can hit for power. Maria Williamson leads the South Atlantic Conference and is fifth in the nation with 12 home runs this season. Taylor Barcomb has hit 17 doubles to top the conference and rank second in the country. Those two players have each driven in 44 runs to rank 11th in the country.
The 1 v. 2 matchup in the SAC standings also features two of the league's top three offenses and top three defenses going against one another.
"I don't stress with this team," Kazee-Hollifield said. "They love the game and have such a passion for it. I'm always happy if we get effort, and a lot more often than not, they've given tremendous effort this season. I love coaching Team 32. I look them in the eyes every ball game, and I think there's something special about them."
Carson-Newman's pitching duo of Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) are one and two in the league in strikeouts with 144 and 129, respectively. Rinus' 1.23 ERA is the top mark in the conference.
They'll have to go against Coker's Taylor Forehand, who has pitched in six consecutive wins and ranks third in the conference with a 1.94 ERA.
First pitch between the Eagles and Cobras is set for 1 p.m. Follow @cnathletics for live updates during the game.
