JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Sara Kelley (Ooltweah, Tenn.) and Brittany Hefner (Talbot, Tenn.) combined to drive in 11 runs for Carson-Newman (12-2) as the Lady Eagles swept a doubleheader from Concord (5-8) Saturday afternoon, winning 7-3 and 9-1 in five innings in the second game.
Kelley had a grand slam, two doubles and six RBIs in the win. After a quiet performance in game one, Hefner had a big game in the second contest as she hit a two-run homer and then followed that up with a three-run blast to finish the game with five runs batted in.
Carson-Newman head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said she was glad to see Kelley bounce back in the game against Concord
"Sara had a disappointing day a few days ago but we talked briefly and I told her that she had been in the trenches since she was a freshman and she just needed to relax and play ball and that is what she did. We need her, she is a leader for us and it was a good afternoon for Sara," Kazee-Hollifield said.
Hefner continues her torrid pace of smacking the ball all over the field and the C-N mentor said she was pleased with the way the former Walters State stand-out played.
"Brittany makes things happen and is a smart ball player. Her defense is picking up and I am so pleased with that. You can't say enough about that kid, she just comes to work every day whether its practice or game time," Kazee-Hollfield said of Hefner.
Game 1: C-N 7, Concord 3
Concord was haunted by three costly errors in the first game as Carson-Newman won 7-3.
After falling down 1-0 to the Mountain Lions early, Carson-Newman exploded for four runs in the fourth inning on a grand slam by Kelley that scored Hayley Burnette (Rossville, Ga.), Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) and Hefner.
Concord plated another run in the sixth inning to cut the lead in half at 4-2 but the Lady Eagles responded with a three-spot in the home half of the inning. A two-run error allowed Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Lance to come around and later when Cassie Elliott (Johnson City, Tenn.) singled to center, Burnette scored to produce the 7-3 victory.
Kaitie Sims (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) picked up the win in the circle to run her record to 7-0 to begin her freshman campaign.
Game 2: C-N 9, Concord 1 – five innings
Carson-Newman broke out the bats in second game as they defeated Concord 9-1. Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) started the scoring with a two-run single to right that brought Angel and Hensley home. Hefner's blast to left center scored two more and after Elayna Siebert tripled to left center, she came around on Kelley's double down the left field line. The Lady Eagles led 5-1 at the end of the first inning.
The rest of Carson-Newman's runs would come in the fourth. Angel singled and Shoemake doubled down the line to put two runners on base. Hefner swept them all home successfully as she clobbered a towering three-run blast to left field. Kelley hit her second double of the contest to plate Lance for Carson-Newman's four runs that would make it 9-1.
Carson-Newman's young pitchers were effective in the games against Concord. Sims had three strikeouts in the first game and Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) scattered three hits and struck out two in game two. Kalyn Davis (Danville, Ky.) pitched an inning of relief in the second game.
Carson-Newman's Sunday doubleheader at Coker has been postponed. The Eagles will hit the road Tuesday to tangle with Limestone.
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