JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in 32 years, Carson-Newman (26-16) will match wits with one of its most frequent foes from the early days of its existence as a softball program.
Milligan (12-19) will pay a visit to the banks of Mossy Creek for the first time in 32 years when it comes to the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex for a doubleheader Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Milligan, which started its softball program in 1989, squared off with C-N 10 times from 1990-92 before the Eagles left the NAIA for Division II the following season. The Eagles have a 9-1 record all-time against the Buffs.
Carson-Newman is playing an NAIA club for the first time since 2015. The Eagles beat Indiana Wesleyan 5-0 in an impromptu tournament at The Vick that saw C-N players clear two tons of snow from the field to get it ready for play.
Carson-Newman has been on a home run tear. The Eagles have socked 51 home runs this season, the most in a single-season in school history with the 2013 team. There have been 11, 50-home run campaigns in SAC history. Lenoir-Rhyne holds the league record for blasts in a season with 102 in 62 games in 2010.
On the individual charts, Macauley Bailey sits in a tie for fourth place on the career list with Abby Fiessinger with 29. Mary Shealy (31 from 2009-12), Sara Little (33 from 2007-10) and Sara Kelly (35 from 2011-14) are the only player in school history with more than 30. Macey Hughes is two spots behind with 27 career homers, tied with Hall of Famer Whitney Hickam Cruze. Britney Hefner is in sixth on the listing in fourth with 28 home runs.
Hughes is also top five all-time in RBI with 162. Five more RBI and she'll match Sara Kelley and her 167 for third-most all-time.
With 14 home runs this season, Brooke Matyasovsky and Macauley Bailey are in a three-way tie for the most in the SAC this season. The duo is also tied for the 18th most in the country. Prior to this season, there had been 11, 12-homer campaigns in Carson-Newman softball's 39-year history. Those previous 11, 12-homer years all occurred in different seasons. Bailey, Matyasovsky and Hayden Dye all have pulled off the feat this year. Whoever clobbers home run 15 will tie Staci Fish (2001) and Bailey (2023) for the second most in a season in program history. Brittany Hefner holds the single-season record with 19 (2013).
Matyasovsky has 24 career home runs for the Orange and Blue, while Dye has 21. They are the 14th and 15th players in program history to hit more than 20 career bombs. Matyasovsky has hit 65 home runs in her collegiate career - the seventh most among active players in all divisions and the most of any player actively playing in NCAA Division II. Mandy Stevens sits in 10th in school history with 24 career blasts.
Bailey and Dye lead the SAC with 52 and 51 RBI this season - the 15th and 16th, 50-RBI season in school history. Brooke Ramsey (51) and Bre Lockett (55) in 2015 are the only other pair of Eagles to drive in 50 runs in the same season. Bailey and Whitney Hickam are the only Eagles to drive in 50 runs twice in a C-N career.
The matchup has a brotherly connection. Twins Matt (C-N) and Chris (Milligan) are the athletic directors for their respective institutions. Chris' Buffs will be looking for their first win over Matt's Eagles in the battle for the papacy.
First pitch between the Eagles and Buffs is slated for 2 p.m. Tuesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network is available at cneagles.com/live. A video stream can be found with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloSB.
