C-N dropped three out of four contests and was shut out in each of its three losses. The Eagles will look to bring their bats back to life for a Tuesday twinbill against Lincoln Memorial (21-16, 4-8 South Atlantic Conference).
The especially troubling aspect of Carson-Newman's offense in the losses came with base runners. In those three contests, Carson-Newman went 1-for-31 with runners on base and 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
The good news for the Eagles is that their offense has performed far better at home. The Eagles are 21-3 within the friendly confines and have won 14 straight. C-N's home slash of average, OBP and slugging is a formidable .332/.445./496. On the road, where C-N is 10-6, it falls to .284/.374/.430.
Even with the two losses to Coker on Saturday, Carson-Newman's pitching staff has been superb. Of the six runs the Eagles allowed to the Cobras, only two were earned.
Carson-Newman's Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) combine to be one of the formidible pitching staffs in the South Atlantic Conference. Rinus leads the league with 145 Ks while Webster follows in second with 125 punch outs. Rinus leads the conference with a 1.22 ERA. C-N is 17th in the country with 10 shutouts this season.
The Railsplitters enter the doubleheader off back-to-back-to-back SAC splits. Most recently, LMU with a 7-4 loss and an 8-4 win over the Queens Royals at Dorothy Neely Field.
The Railsplitters belted seven home runs in the doubleheader against Queens, LMU is ranked second in the league with 33 this season. That is the seventh-most in the program's single-season history.
Carson-Newman has only allowed eight home runs on the year, the second fewest in the conference.
LMU has been productive offensively this year. The 'Splitters have seven regulars who hit at least .300 and five who bat north of .350.
Ty-Kella Goins has LMU's top bat. She's tallied 44 hits for a .389 average with a team-high seven home runs. She also has paved the way with 30 RBI.
Jennifer Moose follows suit with a .361 average. Moose, Allie Jones and Dakotah Fraley have all clobbered five home runs.
First pitch between Carson-Newman and LMU is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday. Coverage of the contests will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
