JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The Carson-Newman softball team split a doubleheader with Lees-McRae on Tuesday afternoon in its home opener at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex.
The Lady Eagles rolled to a 10-2 victory in five innings in the first game before falling in the second game 13-6 in a game shortened to six innings due to darkness.
With the split, the Lady Eagles are now 2-2 on the season, while Bobcats move to 4-2 overall.
In the opener, C-N erupted four eight runs in the third and fourth innings, and starting hurler Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) gave up just four hits in leading the Lady Eagles to a 10-2 win.
Shealy (1-1) worked all five innings and surrendered two runs and had four strikeouts in picking up the win.
Lees-McRae starter Laurel Greg (1-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up eight earned runs, seven hits and nine walks in four innings of work.
Junior Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs to lead C-N, while senior Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) added one hit and three RBIs. Shealy and freshman Sara Kelley (Birchwood, Tenn.) also produced a hit and a RBI each.
Karli Robb went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to lead the Bobcats.
The Lady Eagles struck early in the bottom of the first, as Shealy lined a double down the left-field line, scoring Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) from first.
C-N erupted for four runs in the third to take control of the game, highlighted by a two-run double by Whaley and a two-run single by Price.
The Lady Eagles then put the game away in the fourth with four more runs, as Kelley, Whaley and Price each drove in a run.
In the second contest, C-N rallied from a 5-2 deficit to tie the game at 5-5 in the fifth. However, the Bobcats answered with an eight-run outburst in the sixth on their way to a 13-6 victory.
C-N finished the contest with 11 hits, while Lees-McRae collected 10. But the Lady Eagles committed four costly errors.
Amber Hewitt (Ringgold, Ga.) went 3-for-4 to carry C-N at the plate, while Shoemake and Cassidy Skeen (Powell, Tenn.) each contributed two hits.
Lindsey Huntsinger went 2-for-3, including a home run, to lead Lees-McRae. Kierstie Moon and Alison Armstrong finished with two hits apiece. Kim Coley delivered a three-run double and Meagan Knowles came through with a three-run triple in the win.
Lady Eagle starting pitcher Jessie Forrester (Flintstone, Ga.) (1-1) was hit with the loss after surrendering six earned runs and six hits and walking six batters in four innings of work.
Lees-McRae's Magen West earned the win after giving up four earned runs and 11 hits and striking out eight batters in six innings in the circle.
The Lady Eagles return to the diamond on Saturday with a doubleheader at home against Pfeiffer. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
