NEWBERRY, S.C. – Carson-Newman (29-15, 8-10 SAC) senior shortstop Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) launched her 32nd career home run to get within one of tying the school's all-time career record as C-N split a road doubleheader with Newberry (19-25, 5-13 SAC). The Eagles won game one 4-1 before dropping the nightcap at the Smith Road Complex 7-5.
"Our energy was better today, but we let opportunities slip in game two," Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "We missed tags, overthrew first base and left a lot out there in the second game. I felt like we finally hit the ball a little bit, but our defense wasn't there at times,"
Game one: Carson-Newman 4, Newberry 1
Carson-Newman jumped out to a lead in the third inning when Hayley Burnette (Rossville, Ga.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the fame. She came in to score when Brittany Bass (Duluth, Ga.) ripped a ball into center to drive Burnette in from three bases away.
The Wolves knotted things up in the bottom of the third. With runners on the corners and two out, Casey Nellums dropped an infield single to second base to plate Danielle Basch. A Hailey Drawe foul out ended the frame with a pair of Wolves on the paths.
After Newberry retired eight consecutive Eagles following Bass' double, the Eagles broke the tie in the sixth. Bass led off the frame with a double, again to center. A Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.) infield single to shortstop put two on before a Jessica Morgan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) groundout to the circle advanced both runners into scoring position.
Sara Kelley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) used the opportunity to drive in her 49th run of the year and give C-N a 2-1 lead off a single to left off a 1-0 count. Brittany Hefner (Talbott, Tenn.) cleared the bases with a double to center and the Eagles had a 4-1 cushion.
Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up the win to move to 5-1. She struck out five batters, her first 5-k game since fanning eight against Georgia College on March 5th of her sophomore year. Lyons didn't allow a walk. Madison Burnett picked up the loss to fall to 6-11.
The Eagles forced the Wolves to leave eight runners on base. The Wolves out-hit the Eagles 8-7. The victory for C-N was just its fourth this year in 17 contests where the Eagles got out-hit.
Game two: Newberry 7, Carson-Newman 5
Newberry got the jump on the Eagles in the first to take an early lead on C-N miscues. C-N loaded the bases in the top of the first with one out, but a strike out looking by Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.) and a fly out by Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) ended the threat.
The Wolves took advantage of a pair of C-N errors in the bottom half of the frame. Gabby Bedard reached on a fielding error by Morgan at second before a throwing error by Kalyn Davis (Danville, Ky.) allowed two to come across unearned.
The lead was cushioned as the Wolves ripped three straight singles in the third. The third single, off the bat of Hosking, plated Basch for the Wolves' first run of the third inning and Bedard out at third. A Nellums double put Hosking on third, before both her and Nellums scored on a double to center by Jamison.
The fourth saw the Wolves push two more runs across the plate as Capobianco singled to center. Basch followed with a one out double to right that saw Capobianoc score and Basch advance to third on the throw. A sacrifice fly by Bedard scored Newberry's seventh and final run.
Carson-Newman mounted a comeback, but it ultimately fell short. The Eagles started the rally with a four-run fifth.
Kelley led off the frame with her 32nd career home run. RBI base hits from Lance, Burnette and Hensley brought the Eagles within three.
C-N kept the rally rolling in the sixth when Kelley scored after a throwing error by the catcher following a strikeout.
But, after the Eagles' bit of good fortune on that play, Newberry's pitching staff retired the next five batters in order to pick up the win and the split.
Kalyn Davis suffered her third straight loss in the circle to fall to 12-7.
The Eagles stay on the road Tuesday at Tusculum.
