JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After six straight rain outs, Carson-Newman (2-0), fingers crossed, returns to the field Friday after an 11-day layoff to take on four foes at the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational split between Greenwood and Due West, S.C.
Carson-Newman kicks things off Friday morning at 9 a.m. in Greenwood at Doug Spears Field against fifth-ranked Young Harris (4-0). Four hours later, the Eagles head to Due West, S.C. to take on one of the event's two hosts, Erksine (0-4) at the Erskine Softball Complex.
Saturday sends Carson-Newman back to Greenwood where the Eagles challenge King (1-1) at 9 a.m. before taking on host Lander (3-0) at 1 p.m.
"We play four really good teams that are coming off successful seasons," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We open up with Young Harris who looks to have picked up right where they left off last year and proving worthy of their top-five ranking. This is a big opportunity for us this weekend not only regionally but possibly nationally."
Young Harris has started the season 4-0 and enters fresh off an appearance in the College World Series.
The Eagles have won 17 straight non-conference games. C-N went unbeaten in non-conference play for the second time ever last season. Carson-Newman's last loss out of SAC play came to the Mountain Lions in an 8-0 defeat in April 2018.
This is Carson-Newman's first meeting with a top-five team since March 2, 2012 when the Eagles lost 6-1 to No. 4 North Georgia at the Mid-South Classic. The Eagles also lost twice to then No. 1 UNG in the 2009 regional. Those are the only three games Carson-Newman has played against top-five programs in the last 12 seasons.
The Eagles beat the Mountain Lions twice last year in two, one-run games to open the season. YHC was ranked 13th when the Eagles swept them last year.
Carson-Newman is 4-4 all-time under Graves against ranked opponents.
Abby Fiessinger enters her senior season with a chance to enter her name among the all-time greats. She needs eight home runs to tie Sara Kelley for the program's all-time career record. Fiessinger enters her senior season with 27. She also starts her final year with 41 doubles. She would need 20 doubles to match Whitney Hickam for the program record for career two-baggers. Fiessinger is presently tied for eighth in career doubles and tied for fifth in career home runs.
King is trying to extend a streak of three consecutive 30- win campaigns. King was picked third in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll.
The Tornado is the last Conference Carolinas school to beat the Eagles. C-N has won 13 straight against the league, and are 59-13 against schools from the conference over the last seven seasons.
Sydney Grimes is Lander's first two-time All-PBC first teamer in a decade. The second baseman has four hits in nine at-bats and four runs batted in to open up her final campaign in Greenwood.
The Bearcats were picked to finish eighth in the PBC preseason poll.
Follow @cnathletics on Twitter for live updates of all four games.
