JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's Kyle Koeneman hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to force extra innings and the Eagles rallied for three runs in the 11th inning to beat visiting Mars Hill, 10-9, in Game 1 of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. Mars Hill controlled Game 2 for a 9-1 win.
With the split, the Eagles claim their fourth SAC series of the season and are 9-6 in league play. Mars Hill moves to 5-10 in SAC play.
Game 1 – Carson-Newman 10, Mars Hill 9 (11 inn.)
Carson-Newman rallied three times from deficits in the game's final innings before eventually grabbing a 10-9 win over Mars Hill in the opener.
C-N answered Mars Hill's two runs in the top of the 11th with three runs in the bottom of inning to rally for the win. Freshman Cody Fox's two-run single tied the game setting the stage for Trace Rogers to come through with the game winner.
After Zach Long flew out to open the inning, Koeneman drew a one-out walk to start the rally. Lance Rorex followed with double into the left field corner to move the tying run into scoring position. Freshman Bryan Everhart drew a walk to load the bases and eventually score the winning run.
Mars Hill scored twice in the top of the inning as Joey Belviso reached with a leadoff single and Jacob Rand followed with an RBI single to help give the Lions a 9-7.
Belviso helped set the stage for the late inning dramatics. He hit a three-run home run in the seventh to give Mars Hill a 6-4 lead at the time. The blast was part of a 7-for-11 day for Belviso. He also scored six runs and had seven RBIs in the two games.
Fox was part of the Eagles' answer in the bottom of the seventh. His two-out, two-run single knotted the game at 6-6 as the Eagles manufactured two runs on a lone single.
Mars Hill took the lead on two C-N errors in the ninth. Belviso singled and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Troy Zawadzki to give the Lions a 7-6 lead heading in to the bottom of the ninth.
The lead was short-lived as Koeneman hit his second ninth-inning home run of the week to tie the game at 7-7 and force extra innings. The home run, his 10th of the season, has him among the national leaders.
Fox had his best day as an Eagle. The freshman was 5-for-6 in the opener with a team season-high six RBIs.
Rorex also came up big going 3-for 6 with a double. He scored four runs.
C-N starter Chris Armstrong went six innings and allowed two earned runs. Ryan Fillers picked up his second win of the week working five innings in relief.
Belviso, Coty Pate, and Tyler Reboulet were all 4-for-6 for the Lions. Belviso scored four runs and had three RBIs in the loss. The Lions first four batters combined for 13 hits.
Game 2 – Mars Hill 9, Carson-Newman 1
Mars Hill scored in each of the final five innings to break open a scoreless game early and salvage a win in the sweep, winning the series finale 9-1.
The Lions scored two unearned runs off of C-N starter Brandon Timmerman to take a 2-0 lead in the third. Belviso had an RBI double and Jake Wooten followed with an RBI single as Mars Hill took an early lead.
Belviso would add to his big day with a two-run single in the fourth as the Lions built a 4-0 lead.
C-N was outhit in the loss, 13-8. The Lions worked through six Eagles pitchers in the win, but only three of their nine runs were earned.
Mars Hill starter Josh Dean (W, 4-3) walked two and scattered eight hits in his complete game.
Belviso was 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Lions' offense. He also scored twice.
Koeneman was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Fox stayed hot with another multi-hit game.
Carson-Newman returns to action with a doubleheader against Belmont Abbey on Tuesday in Jefferson City. First pitch is at 1 p.m.
-C-N-
