JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After dropping five of its last six South Atlantic Conference games, Carson-Newman (16-8, 9-7 South Atlantic Conference) will look to regain its fine fettle when it takes on an Anderson (23-5, 11-3 SAC) club that is receiving votes in the latest NFCA poll.
First pitch between the Eagles and Trojans is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday in Anderson, S.C.
"Our keys to success right now is continuing the pitching and hitting that we produced at Wingate in game two," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "Anderson is a good ball club that hits exceptionally well and has quality arms. We can't start slow against a team of their caliber."
The Eagles snapped a five-game SAC losing streak by rallying for an 8-7 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader Saturday at Wingate. Anderson saw a six-game win streak come to a close in the second game of its doubleheader against Newberry, losing 4-1 in the nightcap against the Wolves. Anderson has won nine of its last 11 dating back to March 8.
Kasey Boatner is a home run machine. Boatner leads the SAC and is second nationally with 10 home runs. Boatner has a pair of multi-home run games this season. It's been nine at-bats since her last home run. Boatner drilled nine home runs in her first 18 games this season. She has one in the last nine games.
Anderson is an elite extra-base hitting team. The Trojans are ninth in the country and second in the SAC with 46 doubles. AU leads the league and ranks eighth nationally in home runs with 28 while ranking eighth nationally and second in the league with 10 triples.
Complementing the power at the plate, the Trojans hit will situationally. Anderson is third in the country with 12 sacrifice flies and sixth with 21 sacrifice hits.
Harlie Duncan is fourth in the SAC with a 1.94 ERA. Duncan leads the SAC and is sixth nationally with her 11 wins. Her 80 strikeouts are fourth in the SAC.
Lacie Rinus became Carson-Newman's fourth member of the 600 K club in C-N's game one win over Limestone on March 10. Rinus is fourth all-time in Ks at Carson-Newman. She needs 42 more to catch Carson-Newman Hall of Famer Heather Randolph for third all-time.
Carson-Newman has been swinging the hottest bat in the South Atlantic Conference this season. The Eagles lead the league in batting average and are 12th nationally hitting .356. With a .440 on-base percentage, the Eagles also lead the league and rank 11th nationally. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 10th nationally with 7.75 runs per game and second in overall runs with 186 scored this season.
Shannon Smith has put on a show for Carson-Newman at the plate. Even after seeing a 16-game hitting streak end against Lincoln Memorial, Smith ranks in the top 20 nationally of seven offensive categories. Smith is fifth in the country in RBI (36). She is second in doubles with 12 and third in total bases with 74. Smith is ninth nationally in hits with 37 while ranking 10th in RBI per game (1.50). The Channahon, Ill.-native's seven home runs are 25th in the country.
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