Eagles build woodshed, take Bears behind it, head to SAC title game

HARROGATE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (35-15) constructed a woodshed at Dorothy Neely Field Saturday afternoon and took 23rd-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (37-14) back of it with an 11-1 run-rule win in the SAC semifinals. 

The 10-run margin of victory over the Bears is C-N's largest since 1994 and C-N's first run-rule win over the Bears since 2015. 

Carson-Newman takes on fourth-seeded Lincoln Memorial for the SAC title Saturday evening. 

Carson-Newman hopped on the scoreboard early.  The Eagles loaded the bases without an out. Natalie Corbin (Tybee Island, Ga.) walked to start the game before Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) dropped down a bunt single back to the pitcher.

Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) laid down a sacrifice bunt, but reached anyway on an error at first base.  Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) took advantage with a two-run single to left to put the Eagles up 2-0 after a half inning.

The Eagles kept on pressure in the third.  Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) clobbered her 14th home run of the year to stretch the Eagles' lead to 4-0. However, C-N wasn't done in the inning.  Corbin and Sohm hit infield singles to set C-N on the front foot 6-0 after three.

Carson-Newman took it into run-rule territory in the fourth.  Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) belted a grand slam and Sohm drove in her second run of the game with a single through the left side to give the Eagles an 11-0 cushion.

Lauren Rakes gave the Bears a consolation prize with a solo home run in the fourth before Harris, Sohm and Hughes turned a double play to give C-N a run-rule win over the Bears 11-1. 

Morgen Baker-Celis dealt a dandy to improve to 7-1 in the circle.  She just gave up four hits while walking two and striking out two. 

Lauren Rakes took the loss in a 2.0-inning start to fall to 20-4.  She gave up four hits and four runs, two earned.  Morgan Beeler finished the game, allowing six hits and seven runs. 

Sohm produced a three-hit day for C-N's offense, driving in two runs.  Rogers and Hughes both drove in four. Hughes had the other multi-hit day for C-N. 

Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live updates of the title game Saturday evening.

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