COLUMBUS, Ga. – Brittany Hefner (Talbot, Tenn.) collected seven RBI and two home runs, but it wasn't enough for Carson-Newman (15-5) as the Eagles dropped both games of a doubleheader to Columbus State (14-9) 2-1 and 11-8. It's the first time this year C-N has lost both games of a doubleheader.
Game one: Columbus State 2, C-N 1
Carson-Newman stranded six runners in scoring position in the opening game as Columbus State pitcher Mollie Russell fanned nine Eagles to win the pitchers' duel.
Columbus State took the lead 2-0 in the third off a Casey Googe home run to right centerfield.
Carson-Newman would rally in the sixth and seventh innings but would strand five runners between the two frames.
The Eagles looked to have a two-out rally rolling in the sixth. With the bases loaded following a Bethany Davis (Nicholasville, Ky.) single to right field, Braleigh Angel (Hixson, Tenn.) was hit by a pitch to bring in Hefner from third. However, Elayna Siebert (Knoxville, Tenn.) would hit a little dribbler back to the pitcher and Russell would retire her at first to end the threat.
Carson-Newman would work a runner into scoring position again in the seventh. Jessica Morgan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) advanced to second on a Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) grounder to short. Hefner was intentionally walked, but Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) sliced one to third to end the inning and the game.
Cassie Lyons (6-4) took the loss, her first in three appearances. The Eagles failed to take advantage of four Cougar errors.
Game two: Columbus State 11, C-N 8
Game two looked to be moving along much like game one in the fashion of a pitchers' duel. The teams were scoreless through two before C-N's bats started cooking in the third. Hefner slugged a grand slam with no one out to plate Shoemake, Angel and Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.).
Hefner would go yard again in the next inning. Natalie Sheffey (Johnson City, Tenn.) would lead off the inning with a double to left center before coming home on a Hensley fielder's choice. After a Cassie Elliot (Johnson City, Tenn.) walk, Hefner bombed her second home run – this one with two out - of the day beyond the fence in left.
However, with Carson-Newman up 8-0 and threatening to run rule the Cougars, Columbus State charged back.
CSU plated seven in the bottom half of the fourth, batting around in the process, before taking the lead with a four-run sixth. Googe ripped a three-RBI double to left center in the sixth to clear the bases and complete the comeback for the Cougars.
Lyons (6-5) took the loss in relief of Kaitie Sims.
The Eagles return home Saturday to open conference play with a doubleheader against Catawba. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. with coverage on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network on cneagles.com.
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