Milledgeville, Ga. – Carson-Newman (16-8) dropped a pair of one-run games, 2-1 and 8-7 in eight innings, Monday afternoon at the Peeler Complex to Georgia College (21-11). The Eagles have lost five or their last six.
Carson-Newman struggled getting timely hits throughout the day. The Eagles were five-for-31 at the plate with runners on base and two-for-20 with two outs.
Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) proved to be the bright spot offensively for C-N, cranking her second home run of the season and producing three RBI between the two games.
The Eagles have lost five of their last six games.
Game one: Georgia College 2, C-N 1
The Bobcats won a pitchers' duel that featured some untimely miscues late for C-N. The Eagles would knot the game at a run a piece in the sixth inning when a GC outfielder unleashed an errant throw off a Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) flyout that enabled Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) to tag up and score from second.
However, with one out and two runners in scoring position, Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) struck out in a nine-pitch at bat and Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.) grounded out to second to end the threat.
The Bobcats would take advantage in the bottom half of the frame when Abi Leroy advanced to third on a passed ball before Taylor Campbell brought her home for the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Lyons took the hard luck loss in the circle to fall to 7-6 on the year. Neither run she gave up was earned. Dani Galluci got the win to improve to 7-4.
Game two: Georgia College 8, C-N 7 (8)
The Bobcats pulled off a come-from-behind win in extra innings to sweep the Eagles.
After scoring four unanswered to tie the game in the sixth, the Bobcats found themselves down two after the road half of the eighth.
The Eagles looked to have the game in hand for a second time after leading by four early. With a runner a second to start the eighth because of the international rule, Katie Brown would eventually come around to score after an error by the catcher during Shoemake's at bat. Jessica Morgan added an insurance run off a Brittany Hefner sacrifice fly.
However, the Bobcats would counter and take the game in the bottom half of the eighth. Following two bunt singles two score a pair of runs, the Bobcats would win the game on a Kristen Humphries smash off Kelley's glove at third.
Lyons was again handcuffed with the loss, this time in relief of Kaitie Sims (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.).
The Eagles return to the Lady Eagle SBC and conference play Wednesday when LMU comes to down for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
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