JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles exploded with a five-run ninth inning to beat King College in Game 1 of a softball doubleheader, 7-5, on Thursday. King bounced back for an 8-3 win in Game 2.
With the split, C-N moves to 11-5 on the season.
Game 1 – Carson-Newman 7, King 5 (9 inn.)
The Lady Eagles put together a five-hit, five run-ninth inning to turn a pitcher's duel into a high-scoring affair in a 7-5 win.
Catcher Bri Shoemake belted a two-out, two-run double to left field to score Jessica Morgan and Cassidy Skeen and give the Lady Eagles a 5-2 lead. Sara Kelley also scored after starting the inning at second base under tiebreaker rules.
C-N sophomore Caitlyn Lance and senior Kim Whaley each had RBI doubles to keep the offense rolling in the inning.
The two teams took a 1-1 tie into extra innings after both pitchers controlled the game for seven innings.
Lady Eagle starter Mary Shealy (WP, 11-4) allowed one run through seven innings to keep King at bay.
Lance had a sacrifice fly to plate Shoemake in the eighth. Shealy, who was making her first plate appearances in two weeks, had a single in the inning.
King threatened in the eighth after a bunt single to lead off the inning tied the game at 2-2, scoring the placed runner.
The Tornado would put the game-winning run at second on a Katie Brabson double.
However, Shealy pitched her way out of the jam by inducing an pop-up in foul territory and strike out to extend the game and set the table for the Lady Eagles' five runs in the ninth.
Carson-Newman out-hit King, 13-9. Nine Lady Eagles had hits in the game, led by Shealy, Lance, Skeen and Cassie Elliott each with two.
Game 2 - King 8, Carson-Newman 3
King piled up six hits during a seven-run second inning to seize control in an 8-3 win in Game 2.
The Tornado rattled Shealy, starting her second game of the day, for eight earned runs en route to the split.
Shoemake had three of C-N's six hits in the loss, all singles, and an RBI. She finished the day 4-for-9 with four RBIs.
The Lady Eagles return to action on Sunday at Pfeiffer. First pitch is at 1 p.m. in Meisenheimer, N.C.
-C-N-
