VIDEO: Concord Highlights GM 1
VIDEO: Concord Highlights GM 2
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (4-8) looks to expand upon a sweep of Concord Sunday when it welcomes in the SIAC's Kentucky State Thorobreds (4-4) for a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader at The Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex at 1 p.m.
C-N swept its first doubleheader of the season Sunday against the Mountain Lions. Kentucky State was swept at the hands of Salem on Feb. 21. The Tigers no-hit the Thorobreds in the nightcap of the twinbill.
"We have some things that we need to put into practice," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We went around a baserunner instead of going through the runner against Concord. Pitching, we are giving up too many hard hits, which means were missing our spots. We're also giving up some base hits when working ahead in the count."
This is Carson-Newman's first meeting with Kentucky State. The Eagles are taking on an opponent from the SIAC for the first time since Feb. 13, 2022 when it run-ruled Miles 11-2 at the Charger Chillout. Carson-Newman is unbeaten against the SIAC over the last decade, going 9-0 against Miles, Clark Atlanta, Benedict and Fort Valley State. Seven of the nine wins against the league have come via the run-rule (Clark Atlanta and Benedict kept games inside of eight runs in game twos of twinbills). C-N has outscored the teams from the league 123-9
This will be Kentucky State's second-ever series with a South Atlantic Conference opponent. The Thorobreds squared off with Lincoln Memorial last year. The Railsplitters swept the doubleheader 18-0 and 9-1. Emma Frost, then with LMU, was only an out away from a potential perfect game but allowed a solo homerun with two outs in the fifth for the only runner to reach base against her. She struck out 12 in 5.0 innings.
Macey Hughes enters her senior season poised to make some inroads into the Carson-Newman softball record books. Macey Hughes sits in eighth place in Carson-Newman history for career home runs with 24, she is tied with Mandy Stevens. Next up on the all-time list is Lisa Rogers, who had 26 from 2003-06. Sara Kelley (2010-14) holds the program's all-time record with 35. Hughes is also top 10 all-time in RBI with 138. She sits in eighth in a tie with Mary Shealey (2009-12).
Macauley Bailey sits on 19 career home runs, one away from becoming the 13th player in school history to hit 20 career home runs.
The Eagles have struggled with situational hitting to start the season. C-N is hitting .233 with runners on base and just .209 with runners in scoring position. Comparatively, Carson-Newman's foes are batting .382 with runners and .361 with runners in scoring position. Conversely, Carson-Newman hit .352 with runners and .344 with runners in scoring position on its way to an NCAA Southeast Regional appearance last season. C-N improved on those numbers significantly in its Sunday doubleheader with Concord. The Eagles were 9-for-22 with runners in scoring position for a significantly improved .409 average.
First pitch between the Eagles and Thorobreds is slated for 1 p.m. Tuesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network is available at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloSB.
