GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – With four hits in two games, Carson-Newman senior second baseman Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) moved into a tie for 19th in NCAA Division II history for career hits as the Eagles (29-13, 9-9 SAC) and Tusculum (22-17, 9-9 SAC) split a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Red Edmunds Field.
Harris sits at 321 hits for her career. She moved past Jessie Johnson (Wis.Parkside), Courney Albritton (Valdosta State), Bailey Vrazel (Texas Woman's) and Bri Garber (West Chester) and into a three-way tie for 18th all-time with Kelly Norris (Coker, 1995-98) and Katelyn Lovato (Adams State, 2010-13).
The Eagles prevailed 9-5 in game one before falling 6-1 to Tusculum in the night cap.
"We responded very well in February to adversity," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "For whatever reason that has definitely changed. In February, we never thought we were going to lose - it didn't matter what the score was. Walks are flat out killing us. It seems like every time we walk someone, they find a way to score. Those were two important games for both teams and each team won one of them. We will see what we are made of the next six games."
C-N pitching walked seven batters in the twin bill – four of those base runners would come around to score. That number goes up to six if you include those who reached on fielder's choices following bases on balls.
The split keeps the Eagles and Pioneers tied for seventh in the league standings with a two-game lead on UVA Wise for the first team on the outside looking in for the conference tournament.
Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) socked her 13th home run of the season to move into a tie for fourth in C-N's single-season annals with Lindsay Dean.
C-N's game-one win snapped a four-game road losing streak.
GAME ONE: Carson-Newman 9, Tusculum 5
Tusculum snagged an early advantage thanks to timely hitting. A one-out walk and a wild pitch for Kaitlyn Newport gave the Pioneers a base runner in scoring position. After a strikeout, Chloe Freischmidt looped a single over the head of Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) at short. Fresichmidt scored standing to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead after one.
Carson-Newman responded in the top of the second with a titanic two-out rally. C-N started the inning with a line out and a strike out before the Eagles loaded the bases with a double, a walk and an error.
The fielding miscue proved highly costly. Natalie Corbin (Tybee Island, Ga.) reached on an infield single to first where the bag was left uncovered to score the first run of the Eagles rallied.
Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed with an RBI fielder's choice. Sohm bounced a ball to short, but Corbin beat the throw to the second base bag to push C-N in front 2-1. Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) capped the rally stinging a 2-1 pitch into center field to plate two runs and put the Eagles ahead 4-1.
The Pioneers would get it back in the bottom of the third. A walk, a single and a wild pitch gave the Pioneers two runners in scoring position with one out. Freischmidt bounded a ball through the left side to plate a run before Ana Alloway singled to third to score a second. After a pitching chance and a walk, the Pioneers leveled the score with an RBI fielder's choice to short from Hannah Hughes.
C-N retook the lead in the top of the fifth. Harris led off the inning with her third hit of the day, an infield single to short. She stole second and third before Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) walked. Hughes then swiped second to set the table for Hayden Dye (Powell, Tenn.). The freshman stroked an 0-2 pitch into the left centerfield alleyway to plate both runners and give C-N the lead.
After Dye took third on a fly ball out to right, Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) drove her in with a ground out to third to push the Eagles in front 7-4.
Little league home run?
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 13, 2022
Little league home run ‼️‼️
That's one way to touch 'em all Natalie Corbin.
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Tusculum countered with a single run in the bottom of the fifth. Hayley Lazo led off the iunning with a double and moved to third on a fly ball to right, however, C-N's throw to try to tag her went wide into the dug out to score her for an unearned run off the error.
The Eagles got that run back in the top of the sixth. Corbin dropped down a bunt on a 0-1 pitch to third. She reached safely on a bunt single, but a throwing error caromed into right and allowed her to race around the bases for a little league home run and an 8-5 C-N lead.
Hughes set the final margin in the top of the seventh with her 13th home run of the season, a solo blast to lead off the inning off a 2-0 pitch that set the final margin at 7-5.
Sara King (Cumming, Ga.) got the win in relief. She pitched the final 4.2 innings to improve to 15-7. King gave up three hits and an unearned run while walking one and striking out two.
For the 1️⃣3️⃣th time this year, @MaceyHughes5 goes yard.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 13, 2022
Fourth most home runs in a season in C-N history.
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Emily Sappington took the loss for the Pioneers to fall to 10-9. She dealt the complete game, giving up eight hits and nine runs, however, only four of those runs were earned. She walked three and struck out four.
GAME TWO: Tusculum 6, Carson-Newman 1
Much like game one, Tusculum got out on the front foot. Walks to Newport and Mya Maddox started the inning. On Newport's base on balls, a wild pitch put Maddox on third. Then on a steal by Newport to take second, a throwing error by Warder behind the plate let Maddox come in for an unearned run and a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers grabbed that edge without recording a hit.
The Pioneers got rolling in the bottom of the second, plating four runs off three hits. Katelynn Hodges, Maddox and Lazo all stroked two-out doubles, with Lazo's two-base hit driving in two runs to put the Pioneers in front 5-0.
The Eagles got on the board in the top of the fifth. Sohm reached on a fielding error on a dropped fly ball in right and took third on the error. Hughes drove her in with a ground ball smashed past the diving third baseman to pull the Eagles within four runs, 5-1.
Tusculum got that run back in the bottom of the fifth. Freischmidt roped a one-out double to right center, took third on a fly ball out to right and scored on an RBI single off King's legs in the circle from Smeltzer to stretch the lead to 6-1.
Ireland Cavanaugh improved to 9-5 with the complete-game effort. She struck out four and walked one while only surrendering three hits. The one run she allowed was unearned.
Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) fell to 8-5 with the loss. She started and pitched the first 1.2 innings giving up two hits and four runs, three earned. Rogers walked three and struck out two.
Carson-Newman is off for a week before travelling to Coker Tuesday for a 1 p.m. first pitch with the Cobras from Saleeby-Stokes Field. Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live coverage of the contests.
