JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 20 Carson-Newman (5-3) will look to snap a string of three consecutive doubleheader splits when Augusta (1-5) rolls into the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex Sunday for a noon doubleheader.
Carson-Newman has been struggling to get timely hits through the initial portion of the season.
The Eagles have hit better .300 in RBI opportunities in two games this season, a 13-0 run-rule win over Erskine and Thursday's 4-0 game-one win over King. Carson-Newman was 7-for-14 with runner on second or third against the Flying Fleet and 3-for-7 against the Tornado.
Carson-Newman is hitting .234 this year with runners in scoring position compared to a .308 average for their opponents.
"I wish we could get outside and practice (because of all the rain in the area)," head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We've been gym rats. I so wish we could get out on the field and fine tune some things. Instead, we've been in the gym working and in the cages working. Hopefully we'll be able use that time to iron some things out."
Augusta enters the contest after a five-day layoff and a run-rule sweep at the hands of the Coker Cobras. Augusta stayed hit-for-hit with the Cobras, but made six errors through the twinbill to help the Cobras out a smidge.
The Jags have some pretty formidable bats throughout the order. Savannah Gabriel leads the Jags with a .667 average. She's connected on 12 hits in 18 at-bats with two doubles and a dinger.
Carolyn Edwards is hitting .400 with four RBI, while Kelsea Hunter leads the team in RBI with five to go with a .313 average.
Augusta has struggled to find its footing with its pitching staff. The best ERA is Courtney Browne's 5.37 marker. She's 0-2 across four appearances and two starts.
Morgan Hunter has started three games and has Augusta's lone win. However, she's 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA. The Jaguars have allowed 53 hits in 35.1 innings as a pitching staff.
Augusta has played exclusively SAC teams to open up its season. The Jags won 6-0 against Catawba to start the year, but have lost five straight, including sweeps to Wingate and Coker.
This is Carson-Newman's first Sunday game since beating Coker 2-0 on April 30, 2017 to lay claim to the South Atlantic Conference tournament title last year. The Eagles are 12-3 on Sundays since 2014.
Carson-Newman has its second best win percentage for games played on Sundays. Only Thursdays are better. The Eagles are 21-2 on the day after hump day.
This is Augusta's first appearance at The Vick since 2014. The Eagles swept the Jags last time they came to Mossy Creek 4-3 and 6-1. A Kelli Hensley triple helped C-N walk-off in game one that day in nine innings.
Last year the team's split a doubleheader in the Peach State. Augusta walked off in game one 6-5 off an Erin Rozier bases-loaded single, before the Eagles pounded out a 10-run fifth to run-rule the Jags in the nightcap 12-2.
Taylor Scott, KaraLynne Levi and Abby Fiessinger all belted home runs last year for the Eagles.
First pitch between the Eagles and Jags is set for noon Sunday. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network online at cneagles.com/live.
