Carson-Newman Baseball Game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles baseball team begins the 2014 campaign with a three-game road series at Georgia Regents University with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m with the slate concluding at 1 p.m. on Sunday. 

"We have no idea what to expect except for what we've seen with practice and our scrimmages," head coach Tom Griffin said about his expectations. "We feel very prepared. Despite the weather that everyone has had to deal with, we have certainly had a great opportunity to be outside every day." 

The series marks the 15^th consecutive season the two teams will open the season against each other dating back to the 1998-99 season. 

The Eagles are looking to break a four-game losing streak in season openers dating back to a 10-6 victory at Augusta State on February 1, 2009. C-N has dropped a pair of one run losses during the streak. 

"It's always been a nice trip," Griffin said of the journey south. "The weather is usually pretty good. Competition has been good. It's a Peach Belt team, one of the best conferences in Division II. Facilities have always been good." 

With conference play just a week away, the Eagles need to prepare quicker than they usually would with just four nonconference games prior to Brevard next weekend. 

"It's getting your relievers ready because they are probably going to be used earlier than you want," Griffin said of the pitching staff. "The bullpen is probably going to be used a little bit earlier in the first week or two." 

Carson-Newman will rely on junior right-hander Quinton Yocom (Cable, Ohio), sophomore Vince Apicella (Dillsburg, Pa.) and senior Dustin Dunagan (Winder, Ga.) as its weekend starting pitchers this season. Griffin believes he has depth among his arms. 

"Apicella gives us a lefty starter that we haven't had in a while," Griffin said of the Coastal Carolina transfer. "We feel like we have four or five starters. Our bullpen is a mix of guys who are returning and some transfers that gives us some great experience." 

GRU Augusta is coming off of a 10-38 season (3-25 Peach Belt) and is embarking on the first season as head coach for Jason Eller. Eller is just the fifth coach in the program's 48-year history. Prior to taking over the Jaguars, Eller spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia. 

As a group in 2013, the team hit .256 while the pitching staff accumulated a 5.94 ERA and allowed opponents to hit .308.