BREVARD, N.C. — Senior outfielder Jonathan Dalton (Rutledge, Tenn.) delivered two home runs, and starting pitcher Austin Bridgewater (Morristown, Tenn.) struck out eight in a complete-game effort, as the Carson-Newman baseball team cruised to a 14-1 victory over Brevard on Friday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference action at Gil Coan Field.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 8-15 on the season and 4-6 in the conference. The Tornados fall to 9-11 overall and 2-7 in SAC play.
Dalton went 3-for-5 on the day, including a two-run shot and a three-run home run, as C-N tied a season-high with 11 hits. Junior Lance Rorex (Chattanooga, Tenn.) added three hits, while junior Troy Zawadzki (Shrewsbury, Mass.) finished with an inside the park home run and three RBIs.
Bridgewater turned in his best outing of the season to improve to 1-4. The senior right-hander gave up one run and scattered seven hits across nine innings of work.
Derek Ham went 2-for-3 to lead the Tornados.
Brevard starting hurler Casey Smith (1-5) was tagged with the loss after surrendering six earned runs and eight hits in seven innings on the mound.
The Eagles got off to a strong start as they tallied a pair of runs in the first inning. Rorex singled to lead off the frame and later scored on a Wesley Dozier (Cornelius, N.C.) single to right field. Dalton then ripped a single through the left side to drive in Dozier and give C-N a 2-0 lead.
C-N added to its lead in the second, as Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) reached on a fielding error, stole second and scored on a Mason Guymon (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) groundout to give the Eagles a 3-0 advantage.
Zawadzki's two-run inside the park home run in the fourth inning pushed C-N's lead to 5-0.
Dalton gave C-N a 7-0 lead in the seventh with a two-run home run to left field, and his three-run blast in the eighth highlighted a six-run outburst, as the Eagles put the game out of reach.
The Eagles and Tornados will wrap up their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
