VIDEO: Tom Griffin Interview

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's (10-1) best start in the program's modern history came to an end on Tuesday afternoon, as it suffered a 10-0 run-rule loss to Lee (6-5) on Tuesday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Field.

The Eagles managed just two base hits against four different Lee pitchers and committed five errors, the most errors in a game since committing five versus Lincoln Memorial on March 10th, 2019.

"It was bad all-around," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said. "Pitching, defense and hitting. It went bad the whole way around. You won't win many games against good teams with five errors and then our at bats were undisciplined. I think we were fatigued. We had a long weekend, practiced yesterday and today was a fatigue day. I'll take that, not having them prepared for this game."

The ten-game winning streak to start this season is the second-longest winning streak under Griffin and is the program's third-longest winning streak since 1990.

Lee's offense was effective from the start. Two pitches into the bottom of the first and the Flames had already scored two runs. A single up the middle followed by a triple and a throwing error brought two runs across on two pitches. The first four batters of the first inning reached and a sacrifice fly capped a three-run first inning for Lee.

Christian Henderson (Clarksville, Tenn.) settled into his second career start, tossing scoreless second and third innings on the mound. He dealt with baserunners in both frames as well.

C-N got its first baserunner with two outs in the third inning. Trey Miller (Rocky Point, N.Y) drew a four-pitch walk but was stranded on base.

The Flames extended their lead to five runs in the fourth inning. They scored two runs on two hits to lead 5-0 after four complete innings.

Carson-Newman managed to get its first hit in the top of the fifth inning. Playing close to home, Braxton Smith (Cleveland, Tenn.) tripled to right field with two outs in the inning. Cole Nathan (Knoxville, Tenn.) was robbed of a base hit, as he lined out to Lee's second baseman for the final out of the frame.

That momentum would carry Lee to a three-run fifth inning. Six straight batters reached in the inning, five by singles to plate three runs. Two of the five hits were infield base hits. C-N limited the damage by getting an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

The Eagles would get another baserunner in the sixth inning, but not until there were two outs. C-N got the runner in scoring position but did nothing with it and saw Lee score a ninth run on a groundout.

C-N's best chance to score came in the seventh frame. Substitutes Frankie Delgado (Deltona, Fla) and Evan Mutter (Bristol, Tenn.) both reached base with one out, with Mutter recording a pinch-hit single. The Eagles came up empty and left the runners on base.

Lee closed out the run-rule win in the bottom of the seventh, with Williams recording a one-out triple and later scoring on a wild pitch.

Carson-Newman has now lost five straight meetings against Lee.

Henderson took the loss in his second career start. He pitched three innings, allowing three runs, two earned on six hits with one strikeout.

The Flames used four different pitchers, with Seth Parker recording his first win of the season in two scoreless innings on the mound.

Lee's top three hitters in the batting order combined for ten hits and 6 RBI led by JJ Williams and Luke Collier's four hits and two RBI each.

Carson-Newman returns to South Atlantic Conference play on Friday at Newberry. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5:00 pm. from the Smith Road Baseball Complex. There will be a free audio stream available courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network on cneagles.com/live.