SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Carson-Newman (2-0) started its season with a bang with 15-0 and 9-1 run-rule wins on opening day over Converse (0-6) Monday afternoon at Tyger River Park Field.
The 15-0 win in game one goes down as the Eagles' second-largest margin of victory on opening day in school history. Only an 18-0 win over Trevecca Nazarene to kick off the 1992 season registers as a great margin than the Eagles' 15-run win over Converse.
Additionally, the 15 runs mark the 24th time in school history Carson-Newman has defeated a team by that man runs.
"I was really pleased with our performance offensively and defensively except for the first inning of both games," Graves said. "We played good defense and scored runners when we got them on base. After the first inning, both Lacie and Morgan were effective, and our offense allowed us to play a bunch of people. It was refreshing to see that we didn't miss a beat when we did substitute."
The Eagles produced a seven-run fourth inning in game one, and an eight-run sixth inning in the night cap.
Carson-Newman pounced on nearly every opportunity it had to score across the twin bill. The Eagles hit .444 with runners on base, .464 with runners in scoring position and .600 with runners on third and less than two outs.
With a star-studded senior lineup, it was actually Carson-Newman's freshmen who did the majority of the heavy lifting offensively. Of Carson-Newman's 23 runs batted in, 13 came off the bats of first-year players
"I really do think we have a special group of freshmen," Graves said. "They've won games in intrasquad. Our upperclassmen have helped bring them along. They set good examples for them to follow, and both groups are delivering right now. We have a great mix and everyone seems to understand their role here in the early going."
Madelyn Gillett (Howell, Mich.) clobbered two home runs and drove in five. Her homer in her second career at-bat makes her the second fastest player in school history to homer to start a career, second only to teammate Haley Caldwell (Kenova, W.Va.).
Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) drove in four and went 2-for-3 at the plate while Shannon Smith (Channon, Ill.) and Julianna Savone (Palm Coast, Fla.) each drove in two.
Carson-Newman got complete game performances in the circle from Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Morgan Baker-Celis (Kentfield, Calif.). In her 99th career appearance, Rinus collected her 21st career complete-game shutout. While Baker-Celis struck out four in her first career start.
"Morgan moved the ball well," Graves said. "She got a lot of ground balls for us and not many balls left the infield on her. After the first inning she settled down and did a really nice job."
Game one: Carson-Newman 15, Converse 0 (five innings)
Carson-Newman got things rolling in the second. Haley Caldwell (Kenova, W.Va.) led off the frame with a double to left center. Madelyn Gillett (Howell, Mich.) brought her in when she reached on an error at first.
After Keeley Quillen (Gate City, Va.) got plunked, KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) bunted the pair into scoring position. Freshman third baseman Shannon Smith (Channon, Ill.) game through with a clutch two-out lick to left to plate the duo and put C-N up 3-0.
Carson-Newman kept up the two-out magic in the third. Caldwell walked with two out to set the table for Gillett. The freshman homered in her second career at bat, stroking the ball over the fence in left center, to push the Eagles' lead to 5-0.
The Eagles fully pounced in the fourth. C-N loaded the bases with one out of a hit batter, a Smith single to third and a walk to Sohm. Rinus took advantage of the situation with one out by delivering a rip back up the middle that cleared the bases and put the Eagles up 8-0. Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) kept the merry-go-round rolling with another base hit back up the middle to plate Rinus and stretch the advantage to 9-0.
When the dust settled, the Eagles had scored seven times in the inning and led 12-0 following a Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) pinch-hit bases-clearing double.
C-N pushed the lead to 15-0 in the top of the fifth. Rinus singled and Madison Mathis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) got hit to start the inning. After a strikeout and a ground out, Julianna Savone (Palm Coast, Fla.) sparked a two-out rally with a two-run single to left. Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) followed suit with another single to left to plate Savone and give C-N a 15-0 cushion.
Rinus went the distance in the circle for C-N. She retired the final 15 she faced after giving up two singles to start the game. She fanned five in the two-hit, complete-game shutout.
Courtney Walls took the loss to fall to 0-2 for Converse. She pitched the first four innings, allowing eight hits and 12 runs, 10 of which were earned. Morgan Berndt fired the final frame, giving up three runs off of three hits. Converse pitching plunked five C-N batters in game one.
The Eagles' freshmen delivered the majority of the runs for C-N. Of Carson-Newman's 15 runs batted in, 10 came off of rookie bats. Vandergriff drove in four, while Savone, Gillett and Smith each had a pair of RBI.
Game two: Carson-Newman 9, Converse 1 (six innings)
Converse grabbed an early advantage in game one. Allison Plafcan delivered a one-out single to left in the first inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a fly ball to left.
Ryan Finazzo came through with a timely two-out lick that landed in left to plate Plafcan and give Converse a 1-0 advantage.
Carson-Newman leveled things up in the fifth. A walk, a KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) bunt single and a walk loaded the bases with one out for C-N. Rinus delivered the tying run with a sacrifice fly to center to plate a pinch-running Karissa Schnitz (Smiths, Ala.). However, with two in scoring position, Carson-Newman couldn't keep the rally rolling. A pop up to second ended the threat.
In the sixth, the Eagles put the hammer down. With no one out, C-N got two runners in scoring position with an error, a walk and two wild pitches. Gillett took advantage, muscling up her second home run of the double header over the wall in left center. Quillen followed suit with a single through the right side before Levi knocked her in with a double to left that gave C-N a 5-1 advantage.
Carson-Newman kept it up to produce an eight-run sixth with the final four runs all coming with two out. Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) extended the lead to 6-1 with an RBI, infield-single to short.
With runners on the corners, Fiessinger smashed a single through the right side to clear the bases and extend the lead to 8-1. Caldwell put the run rule on by driving home Fiessinger with a knock to left.
Baker-Celis notched the complete game win. She surrendered five hits, but only allowed one base runner into scoring position after the first inning. She fanned fur and didn't walk anyone.
Savannah Rodgers took the loss to fall to 0-2. She worked the first 5.2 innings, giving up nine hits and nine runs, only four of which were earned.
Daija Irizarry finished off the final batter for the Valks pitching staff.
Carson-Newman returns to action Saturday at Lee's tournament in Chattanooga against Shorter and Illinois-Springfield.
