ALBERTVILLE, Ala. – Carson-Newman (1-5) fell twice to nationally-ranked opposition on the first day of the Charger Chillout at Sand Mountain Park.
The Eagles lost 12-2 in run-rule fashion in five innings to No. 12 Alabama Huntsville (4-2) before falling in the nightcap 7-1 to Mississippi College (6-0).
"There is no panic on our part," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We know the caliber of teams that we have played. We might not have the record of other teams right now but we are doing some good things and getting better. Other than the UAH game which is the only game I can say defense let us down, we have been in games with a chance for W's.
"In saying that, if we would just score a quarter of the runners that we leave on base, it would be a whole different situation. The scoreboard didn't show it but we hit the ball very hard against Mississippi College and their defense was great. I think we are about to see what we are working towards very soon. Hopefully tomorrow."
GAME ONE: No. 12 Alabama Huntsville 12, Carson-Newman 2
Alabama Huntsville scored early and often, scoring the first 11 runs of the game before the Eagles found the scoreboard.
The Chargers plated three in the first, three in the second and five in the third.
C-N aided the Chargers with five errors in the first three innings, including three in the five-run third.
Of the Chargers 11 runs that scored in those three frames, only seven were earned.
Carson-Newman was able to find some offensive footing in the fourth. Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) led off the inning before Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) drew a six-pitch walk. The duo scored two batters later on a misplayed ball at first.
UAH set the final margin at 12-2 with an Alyssa Butts RBI pinch-hit single.
Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) took the loss in her first career start in the orange and blue, falling to 0-1. She gave up four hits and three runs in 0.1 innings.
Katie Bracken got the win to stay unbeaten for UAH at 4-0. She struck out six and walked three, while working around three hits.
GAME TWO: No. 24 Mississippi College 7, Carson-Newman 1
Carson-Newman lit the lamp first in the night cap when Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) led off the second inning with a solo blast to the parking lot in left field.
C-N's lead would be short-lived as the Eagles got two hits the rest of the game. A Brooke Matyasovsky (Orange, Conn.) double later that inning and a Mary Vandergriff (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) two-out single to center in the fifth.
The Choctaws scored three times in the top of the third and four more times in the fifth to secure the program's first-ever win over Carson-Newman.
Jordan LaFosse had an RBI single, while Kamryn Eaton drove in two with a double in the third.
Two doubles, a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single gave the Choctaws all the cushion they would need in the fifth.
Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) worked a 4.1-inning start, allowing five hits and five runs, all earned. She fanned six and walked two. She took the loss to fall to 0-3.
Camryn Bailey won it for MC. She gave up three hits and the home run in a five-inning start while punchout nine.
Carson-Newman returns to action Friday at the Charger Chillout at 2 and 4:30 p.m. against Christian Brothers and Young Harris, respectively. The threat of inclement weather has washed out the Eagles Saturday games against Georgia Southwestern and Shorter. Those two games will not be made up.
