DUE WEST, S.C. – The No. 24 Lady Eagles’ softball team (3-1) split a region doubleheader Saturday against Erskine. C-N won the first game, 5-3, while the Flying Fleet prevailed in the nightcap, 2-1.

Game One – Carson-Newman 5, Erskine 3
Down 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Carson-Newman scored four runs to take a 5-2 lead. Junior left fielder Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) drew a leadoff walk and stole second. A single by sophomore designated player Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) moved Price to third, and a subsequent passed ball allowed her to complete her trip around the bases.

Four batters later, freshman catcher Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) doubled with the bases loaded, scoring three to give the Lady Eagles the 5-2 advantage.

Erskine plated one in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to close the gap any further.

C-N junior Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.) (2-0) picked up the win in the circle, scattering eight hits over seven innings, striking out six. Leigh Anne Shelley (Fork, S.C.) suffered the loss in relief for the Flying Fleet.

Game Two – Erskine 2, Carson-Newman 1
Erskine took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a home run by Larissa Shannon (Newberry, S.C.).

Though the Lady Eagles would score one in the top of the third, the 2-1 lead would hold for the rest of the game, giving the Flying Fleet the split of last season’s Super Region Finalist.

Heather Richey (Abbeville, S.C.) was credited with the complete-game win, with four strike outs and six hits in the outing. Shealy fell to 1-1 on the year with the loss.

Carson-Newman will return to the diamond on Sunday as it will take on Anderson (S.C.) on the road in a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.