HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Carson-Newman (41-11) blasted off the launching pad a couple times to run-rule fourth-seeded Coker (38-16) and move on in the winner's bracket of the 2017 SAC Softball Championships.
The Eagles got home runs from Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) and Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) to move on to Saturday play and a meeting with second-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) pounded out a season-high three hits and drove in two runs.
Lacie Rinus worked a complete game for the Eagles with six strikeouts and one walk to improve to 24-5.
Carson-Newman pounced on a slew of Coker miscues in the second to grab a 4-0 lead. The Eagles loaded the bases without making an out and without getting a hit. KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) got hit, then Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice that saw Levi move to second as Coker's second baseman booted the ball.
Cheyenne Boles (Knoxville, Tenn.) then walked to load them up. Ashlyn Cooper (Friendsville, Tenn.) reached on a fielder's choice on a ball hit to center. The centerfielder misplayed it, but managed to retire Pritchett at second, but not before Levi streaked in for the game's first run.
Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) then doubled to right center. An error by the shortstop on a relay throw brought in an extra run to put C-N up 3-0.
Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) rounded out the scoring in the inning with a base hit up the middle for an RBI as Webster scored.
Carson-Newman added to its lead in the fourth. Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) walloped a 1-1 pitch to left for a two-run bomb and her ninth home run of the year.
The Cobras got a run back the next half inning when Augusta Jackson smashed a leadoff homer to right center to pull Coker within five, 6-1.
Carson-Newman added two more runs to its tally in the fifth. A pinch-running Alisa Walker (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored on a passed ball, then Toppel singled through the left side to drive in Webster and push the lead out to 8-1.
The Cobras got the two runs back in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run to right center from Maria Williamson pulled Coker back within five.
Carson-Newman walked it off via the run rule in the sixth. Rinus walked to lead off the inning, before Levi singled to center. Pritchett went yard to left to walk it off with a three-run jack.
Taylor Forehand took the loss for Coker to fall to 13-3. She worked the first two innings, allowing three hits and four runs, only one of which was earned.
The Eagles take on L-R at 2:30 Saturday for the right to play in the SAC title game Sunday.
