JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Trailing 6-4 in the 5th inning, Carson-Newman (5-6) used four unanswered runs, four scoreless pitched innings, and quality defense to comeback and complete the weekend sweep of Emory & Henry (4-7) Sunday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
"It was a good ball game all around," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said. "It was a tightly contested game and we had one more big swing than them. It could've gone either way, they (Emory & Henry) showed the fortitude to hang in there after falling down early. Our bullpen came in and limited the damage and little bit there in the 5th and then Mason Mooney, that was huge for us. They had a situation where they could've put a crooked number on us. Mason was tremendous for us coming out of the pen. Very happy with the way we hung in there, the intestinal fortitude that we showed there all the way through the end."
After going down in order in the first two innings, C-N came alive in the 3rd. Freshman Ben Willcoxon (Dandridge, Tenn.) was hit by the first pitch of the inning to for C-N's first baserunner of the game. Two batters later, junior Trey Miller (Rocky Point, N.Y) single to left field to give C-N two runners aboard with just one out in the inning. Two batters later, Dalton McLain (Greeneville, Tenn.) drew a bases loaded five-pitch walk for the game's first run. Next batter James Denten (Mt. Prospect, Ill) flied out to deep center scoring Miller to give the Eagles a two-run lead.
E & H had a response next half inning, with two outs and two strikes, Camden Bailey delivered with a two rbi single to left to tie the game. C-N answered E & H's 2 run top of the 4th, with two of their own. Willcoxon singled through the left side scoring Balint to give the Eagles the lead back. Three batters later, Henry Jackson (Waxhaw, N.C.) was hit by a 2-0 pitch with the bases loaded, giving C-N the lead 4-2 after four innings.
The Wasps erupted in the 5th inning. After back-to-back hits to start the inning, Tyler Bradley delivered an rbi single through the left side to make it 4-3. Jackson Harbin (Gastonia, N.C.) came on in relief, walking Wayne Mize to load the bases and then hit Cole Cunningham allowing the Wasps to tie the game. Mason Mooney (San Jose, CA) then came into the game, inducing a ground ball double play, scoring a run to give Emory & Henry its first lead. Next batter Jermie Greene Jr singled on a blooper into right center to make it 6-5.
That would the last time E & H scored, as Mooney went on to pitch four consecutive scoreless innings in relief.
In the bottom half of the 5th, Balint blasted a 3-2 pitch to right center to bring C-N within one. The junior recorded his third home run of the season.
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— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) February 19, 2023
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The Eagles found two out magic in the 6th. Jackson drew a two out walk, and stole second base on the next pitch. With two balls and one strike, McLain poked one into right field for a base hit to score Jackson from second to tie the game at six, through six innings.
Mooney got out of jams in both the 7th and 8th innings after the Wasps got the leadoff guy aboard.
With one out in the eighth inning, Will Gibbs (Harrisburg, Ill) hit a soft fly ball down the right field line and hustled into second base for a double. Miller came to the plate and delivered an absolute bullet to left field, that just stayed inside the left field foul pole. The home run was Miller's first with Carson-Newman. The dinger completed a perfect 3 for 3 day at the plate.
TREY. MILLER. DELIVERS.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) February 19, 2023
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Mooney delivered a 1-2-3 9th inning to help C-N complete the sweep of the Wasps. He retired the final six batters he faced. The right hander secured his second win of the season, pitching five scoreless innings in relief, allowing just three hits and recording two strikeouts.
"Honestly it all comes down to mentality," Mooney said. "Having that mindset that when you come in, you're going to dominate and you're not going to let anyone score. I think that was the biggest thing for me, having that mentality when your number gets called, you're going to win."
Hunter Harritan (Huntersville, N.C.) got the start on the rubber for C-N, pitching four innings, allowing nine hits and five earned runs while striking out three batters.
Miller and McClain each recorded a pair of rbi's in the two-run win. Balint joined Miller also recording multiple hits. Four other hitters recorded a base hit and rbi in the comeback win.
The Eagles get one day off, before a road matchup on Tuesday afternoon with Lee. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.
