JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman moved to 23-2 Saturday afternoon, keeping its win streak alive with two victories over North Greenville (17-10) at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex. C-N won the doubleheader by scores of 5-4 and 5-0.

“It was good just to face the pitching that we did today,” said Carson-Newman Head Coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield. “North Greenville has played a lot of teams really close, and we knew we had our work cut out for us.  They are scrappy and try to execute the short game, so our infield had to be on their toes.”

Game One – Carson-Newman 5, North Greenville 4 - Box Score
North Greenville broke a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning as it scored two runs thanks to back-to-back errors by the Lady Eagle defense. After a pop up with runners on second and third, to errant throws allowed both baserunners to cross the plate.

Carson-Newman responded immediately with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 3-2. Freshman catcher Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) tripled to right centerfield to lead off the inning and was driven home by a double by junior pitcher Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.).  After sophomore Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) drew a walk, junior centerfielder Whitney Durham (Rossville, Ga.) hit the team’s second triple of the inning to right centerfield, scoring two.

The Lady Eagles added two more runs in the fifth as senior shortstop Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled to lead off the inning.  A subsequent double by sophomore right fielder Cassidy Skeen (Powell, Tenn.) scored Howard, but Skeen was thrown out at third advancing on the throw. Shoemake got her second extra-base hit of the day doubling up the middle and completed her trip around the bases thanks to senior first baseman Sara Little’s (Calhoun, Ga.) single through the left side.

NGU added two runs in the top of the seventh to make the final score 5-4. With one out and a runner on first base, Karli Taylor (Taylors, S.C.) hit a home run to centerfield. Shealy relieved Boyd and finished the game for the Lady Eagles, earning her fourth save of the season.

Boyd (14-0) went 6.1 innings in the circle, picking up the win as she scattered six runs and five strikeouts over the appearance, allowing just two earned runs. North Greeneville’s Laura Hopper (Ellenboro, N.C.) suffered the loss, with five earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.

Game Two – Carson-Newman 5, North Greenville 0 - Box Score
The Lady Eagles waited until the third inning before putting two runs on the scoreboard. With two outs and a runner on, Howard singled through the left side and rounded the bases thanks to a fielding error by the left fielder, plating junior left fielder Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.).

A two-out single in the bottom of the fifth frame by Shoemake scored Price for the second time in the contest as C-N held a 3-0 lead with just two innings to play.

Carson-Newman added two insurance runs in the sixth as junior third baseman Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit her third home run in eight days with an inside-the-parker down the right field line, driving in Durham, who reached the batter before on a single up the middle.

Shealy (8-2) picked up the shutout win in game two limiting the Crusaders to just three hits. Kristyn Smith (Walhalla, S.C.) fell to 6-5 after the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits.

“Mary has done a great job,” added Hollifield. “We’ve put her in some tough situations with the score extremely close and runners on base. She’s throwing the ball hard and has good command of her pitches right now. We are very pleased with that.”

Carson-Newman will return to action on Tuesday when it travels to Lincoln Memorial for a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with the Lady Railsplitters. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.