JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (7-1) will look to continue its winning ways with a pair of weekend doubleheaders. The Eagles face off with the Erskine Flying Fleet (4-4) Saturday at noon on the road before returning home to duel with Queens (4-5) at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex Sunday at 1 p.m.
Carson-Newman has outscored its opposition 62-20 through the opening two weeks of the season. The Eagles lead the league in runs scored (62), hits (92), doubles (17) and triples (five).
"We've come out swinging the bats pretty good," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. We've been very aggressive. We took one afternoon off, but outside of that, I've been very pleased with us at the plate."
Brittany Hefner (Talbot, Tenn.) continues to be tops in the South Atlantic Conference in RBI (16), total bases (29), doubles (four) and home runs (three). Of Hefner's 12 hits, nine have been for extra bases.
Saturday, noon @ Erskine
The Flying Fleet has split doubleheaders with a couple members of the SAC. Erskine beat Wingate 3-1 before losing 7-5. Erskine did the same thing with Brevard, winning game one of a doubleheader 6-1 before losing the nightcap with the Tornados 2-1.
Erskine has small balled opponents in the early going. The Flying Fleet raked 30 hits through four games, just four of them have been extra base hits.
"They've played us tough and scrappy in years past," Kazee-Hollifield said. "We talk about it all the time, everytime we suit up, we have to come out ready to play."
On the flip side, Erskine has ridden solid pitching and the arm of Kelsey Spurrier. Spurrier has a 1-1 record in three appearances. She's struck out 11 in 15 innings and has a .132 batting average against.
Sunday, 1 p.m. v. Queens
The Royals have three big bats in their order. Whitney Brit, Caitlyn Cheek and Emma Schultz have combined for more than half of Queens' 62 hits.
Preseason SAC number three Catawba felled Queens 10-8 a week ago.
Lyndey McCurry leads the Royals rotation, going 2-1 in four starts. She has a 2.27 ERA to lead the team.
"Queens is coming into league next year, so this is a little strange," Kazee-Hollifield said. "It's exciting that they're coming in. But they're going to want to come out and make a statement. We have to be ready for them."
Sunday's game will be available on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network on cneagles.com.
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