JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In the series finale of the opening South Atlantic Conference series of 2022, top-ranked Wingate scored three times in the first inning as Carson-Newman's comeback bid fell short in an 8-4 loss to the Bulldogs on Sunday at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
Carson-Newman (10-6, 0-3) is swept at home for just the fifth time in the last 42 home series and for the first time since March 10-11, 2019 to Lincoln Memorial. Wingate (14-1, 3-0) has won three series in a row over the Eagles.
After a strikeout to lead-off batter, back-to-back walks brought Jed Bryant to the plate in the top of the first inning. The right-handed hitter blasted a 2-1 pitch to right field over the fence for his second homer of the year to put the Bulldogs ahead 3-0.
An error and a walk started the top of the third before the next two batters were retired. Despite falling behind 0-2, Andrew McKay recorded his first hit of the series pushing a 2-2 offering into center to plate a pair and extend the advantage to 5-0.
In the top of the fourth, Andrew Motsinger ambushed the first pitch of the frame lacing it into the alley in right field coming around to score after two walks putting the visitors ahead 6-0.
Mac Callari had retired the first 11 batters of the game before Jordan Griffin (Ellerslie, Ga.) cranked a 2-1 offering over the fence in right field between the scoreboard and American flag to get the Eagles on the board trimming the margin to 6-1.
Two singles started the top of the sixth before Michael Dansky grounded to second to move the runners up a bag. Logan McNeely brought in the team's seventh run with a sacrifice fly to center to get the margin back to six at 7-1.
Callari had allowed two base runners through six innings before giving up three straight hits in the seventh including an RBI single to Griffin. A balk and a line drive single to center field by Andrew Carpenter (Morristown, Tenn.) inched the Eagles within three at 7-4 but stranded runners at second and third base.
Tyler Shaver (Dandridge, Tenn.) retired the first 10 batters he faced before giving up back-to-back singles in the ninth. Ricky Clark shoveled a ball through the infield to plate Logan McNeely and put the deficit for the Eagles at four, 8-4.
Callari earned his fourth win of the year tossing six innings and striking out six before Mitch Farris retired the final seven batters of the game to earn the save fanning five.
Four Eagle hurlers threw the final 6 1/3 innings giving up three earned runs to cap a strong weekend by the relievers with the unit giving up six total earned runs over 17 2/3 frames.
"We have gotten to see some guys who have matured into guys that can throw for us," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "They have gotten their feet wet and gotten some experience. They have pitched well in those experiences and that's good moving forward. What we have learned in the first month is we have some depth in that bullpen."
Griffin tallied his 11th multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored to stretch his hitting streak to 15 games. The senior is the first Eagle to have a hitting streak of that length in 1,051 days when Ethan Goforth hit safely in a 15 in a row from March 19-April 15, 2019.
Four Bulldogs finished with multi-hit days led by a 2-for-4 day from Bryant who added three RBIs and two runs scored. Seaver King and Justin Guy each had two hits out of the eight and nine holes of the lineup.
The Eagles return to action with a midweek non-conference affair against Tusculum slated for Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. Broadcast coverage airs on the Eagle Sports Network by visiting cneagles.com/live.
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