JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For just the third time in school history, Carson-Newman (16-6) will take on a team from the Northeast-10. The Eagles welcome in New Haven (4-3) for a noon doubleheader Friday.
This will be the first meeting all-time between then Eagles and Chargers. Carson-Newman has an 11-0 win in 2005 over New Haven's conference-mate American International. The LeMoyne Dolphins downed Carson-Newman 5-1 in 2012.
The Eagles will be looking to extend a five-game winning streak. Carson-Newman has yet to win more than five games in-a-row this season, although, the Eagles are coming off a doubleheader with USC Aiken where C-N went 11-for-19 with runners in scoring position en route to its first run-rule shutout sweep of the season and its first in general since drilling Bluefield State 8-0 and 11-0 March 9. 2017.
A couple Eagles come into the twinbill riding prodigious hot streaks. Both Morgan Crawford (Chickamauga, Ga.) and Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) have tallied base knocks in their last six at-bats.
Rinus has reached base successfully in eight consecutive plate appearances. She singled her final at bat in game two against Limestone, then went 5-for-5 at the plate with two walks against USC Aiken.
Crawford went 3-for-3 at the plate against Concord, with a dinger, a double and five RBI. She followed that up against USC Aiken with another 3-for-3 day.
A total of 20 players in NCAA have successfully hit in 10 consecutive at bats. None have done so since 2001.
Rinus' 32 hits are the fourth most in the country. Her seven doubles are tied with Haley Caldwell (Kenova, W.Va.) for the most in the conference and the 27th most in the country
While Carson-Newman's bats have come to life, the Eagles have been outstanding in the circle and defensively. The Eagles 0.983 fielding percentage is number five in the nation and one-thousandth of a point away from the top spot in the country and Simon Fraser. Carson-Newman has shut out 10 opponents this year, the second most in the country.
The Chargers, a perennial power in the East Region, have already collected two wins this year over top 25 competition. The chargers beat No. 16 West Chester 8-3 and No. 17 Molloy 6-1.
Head coach Jen Starek enters her 11th season at the helm of the program and has taken New Haven to a sextet of NCAA postseason appearances, including the super regionals in 2010.
Kristine Liptack and Jovanna Hillman have led the Chargers offense. Both have batted in eight runs on the young season. Liptack is hitting .409, while Hillman has belted four home runs.
First pitch for the twinbill is set for Friday at noon. Only live stats will be available for the doubleheader at cneagles.com/livestats.
