Lack of situational hitting undoes No. 25 C-N in two losses to QU

VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Even though No. 25 Carson-Newman (28-12, 8-8 South Atlantic Conference) pounded out 20 hits through two games of a doubleheader, the Eagles hit just three times in 19 chances with runners in scoring position in dropping two games to Queens (24-18, 11-7 SAC) Sunday at the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex. 

Queens prevailed by scores of 7-4 in both games to sweep the first doubleheader from Carson-Newman in series history. 

C-N has lost three straight games, through which its is a combined 3-for-25 (.120) with runners in scoring position. 

"I'm tired of saying get the ball out of the infield and swing at good pitches," C-N head coach Michael Graves said. "I can't go up to the plate with a bat and swing at good pitches and neither can Kristen Toppel.  We took a ton of first pitch strikes, allowed their pitchers to throw junk that we swung at.  At the start of the year, things were easy for us. When things are going easy, it's easy to hit. We need to step up now when things are tough."

Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) led C-N at the plate going 3-for-8 with two RBI and her 25^th multi-hit effort of the season. 

Natalie Corbin (Tybee Island, Ga.) tagged an inside-the-park home run, the fifth such knock of the season for C-N. 

GAME ONE: Queens 7, No. 25 Carson-Newman 4

Queens got some timely two-out hitting to grab a lead in the top of the first.  After a leadoff double and a walk, Queens produced two runs off two, two-out hits.  Jordyn Thompson slashed a single up the middle to score one before Kayla Smith stroked a line drive single into right center to set the Royals ahead 2-0. 

Carson-Newman responded in the bottom of the first by scoring a run without a hit.  Natalie Corbin (Tybee Island, Ga.) walked to lead off the game, stole second and then third on a Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) strikeout, and then scored when Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) grounded out to second. 

The Royals got it back and then  some in the top of  the third. After a lead-off infield single and a hit batter, Kayla Smith stroked a triple to right to clear the bases.  She then stole home to give the Royals a 5-1 lead after 2.5 innings. 

Corbin pulled the Eagles within three runs in the bottom of the fifth by racing around the bases for an inside the park home run that pulled C-N within three runs, 5-3.

However, Queens was able to play add on in the top of the sixth.  Gerlea Patton worked a one-out walk, stole second and took third on a ground out.  She scored on a passed ball before Haley Nelson clobbered a 2-2 pitch out of the park in left center to put the Royals up 7-2. 

The Eagles brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but some defensive wizardry kept the Eagles at bay.  Harris and Hughes led off the inning with singles before a bobbled ball at third let Hayden Dye (Powell, Tenn.) reach and bring in a run. 

Carmen Holt (Larwenceburg, Ky.) cranked a single to center to pull C-N within three, 7-4. 

With no one out, Warder scorched a line drive toward right, but Queens second baseman Ashlyn Mickler elevated to pluck it out the sky and turn two.  A groundout ended the Eagles' chances at a rally.

Jordan Dunn improved to 12-10 with the win. She scattered 10 hits and all four runs that scored against her were earned. Dunn walked three and struck out two. 

Sara King (Cumming, Ga.) started and took the loss to fall to 14-7.  She gave up seven hits and five runs, all earned.

Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) worked the final four innings, allowing three hits and two runs.  She walked three and fanned five. 

GAME TWO: Queens 7, No. 25 Carson-Newman 4

C-N wasted no time in getting off and running in the first.  Corbin and Sohm led off the game with singles to right.  Sohm stole second to give the Eagles two in scoring position.  Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) dropped down a bunt single to plate Corbin and give C-N a 1-0 lead. 

The Eagles extended the lead to 2-0 on a double steal that brought Sohm across the plate. 

C-N added two more in the bottom off the fourth with a two-out rally.  Mary Vandergriff (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) ignited it with a two-out infield single to short.  She scored from three bases away on a SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) triple to right.  Corbin then brought Cameron in with a bunt single back to the circle where Cameron was able to slide around Jordyn Hunt's tag at the plate to give C-N a 4-0 lead after four. 

The Royals got their first hit of the day and their first run all on the same play in the top of the fifth.  One out walks for Smith and Ashlyn Mickler gave the Royals two bases runners.  After a strikeout, Haley Hmiel bounced a single  into center to for the Royals first run of the day. That knock made the score 4-1 in C-N's favor.

QU tallied a two-out rally in the top of the sixth to get within a run. Two-out RBI doubles from Thompson and Mickler pulled the Royals within one, 4-3.

The Royals raced in front in the seventh.  Hmiel and Patton started the inning with a single and a walk.  Staley poked a double down the left field to plate both runners and push the Royals in front. 

However, Queens wasn't done.  Staley scored on a fielder's choice on a ground ball back to the circle and a throwing error by the pitcher, while Thompson drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to right to set the final margin at 7-4. 

Carson-Newman never threatened in the seventh going down in 1-2-3 fashion. 

Khristen McPhereson got her second complete-game win of the season to move to 5-2.  She, much like Dunn, scattered 10 hits and four runs all earned. She didn't issue a free base and struck out four. 

Rogers took the loss to fall to 8-4.  She dealt a no-hitter through 4.2 innings before giving up six hits and six runs in the final 1.1 innings of her six-inning start.  Rogers stuck out a career-high nine, but also walked five.  Of the five walks she issued, four scored. 

Morgen Baker-Celis (Kentfield, Calif.) pitched the final inning, giving up two hits and a run. 

C-N hits the road Tuesday to play two at Tusculum.  First pitch from Red Edmunds Field is set for 2 p.m.