SALISBURY, N.C. – With a 6-0 loss to the Catawba Indians (27-16, 20-7 South Atlantic Conference) Friday evening at Newman Park, the Carson-Newman Eagles (21-25, 11-17 SAC) were officially eliminated from SAC tournament contention. The defeat marks the third time this season that the Eagles were blanked

"[Dustin] Dunagan threw well enough for us to compete," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said after the game. "We missed a squeeze play. Offensively we had a couple opportunities. We had men at first or second and we didn't execute."

After the Indians struck out the side in the top of the first frame, Catawba used two singles by Blake Houston and Keaton Hakws to take a 1-0 lead. A bunt single by Ethan Satterfield made it 2-0 after an inning.

The Eagles had just one base runner through the first four innings with junior shortstop Bryan Everhart (Greeneville, Tenn.) tallying the team's first hit, a one out single to right field in the fifth inning.

Catawba used small ball in the bottom of the fifth to extend its lead. Jon Wallace walked to start the frame and was on third base after a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. An infield single by Paul Kronenfeld brought home Wallace giving the home club a 3-0 edge.

Houston drew a one-out walk in the seventh inning to start another rally. Back-to-back two out RBI singles by Satterfield and T.J. Wharton extended the lead to 5-0.

Dylan Richardson cranked a solo home run over the wall in left center field to add another run for the home club and make it a 6-0 contest.

Dunagan fell to 2-7 on the season as he worked seven innings. The senior allowed ten hits, five earned runs and four walks to go along with five strikeouts.

Offensively, Carson-Newman had six hits from six different players with no extra-base hits. Sophomore designated hitter Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) was the lone player to reach base twice going 1-for-3 with a walk.

The Eagles and Indians just beat the rain this evening and the clubs hope to get a doubleheader started Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m as Carson-Newman concludes conference play.

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