VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (11-3, 2-0 South Atlantic Conference) returns from spring break looking to keep its fine offensive form when it heads to Tusculum (15-3, 2-0 SAC) for a league doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. at Red Edmonds Field.
Carson-Newman has been a hitting machine to start the year. The Eagles' .353 batting average is good for the 10th highest in the country and third in the offensively-charged SAC. Carson-Newman has accrued eight double--digit hit performances, including four consecutive.
Carson-Newman has also strung together three straight double digit scoring efforts and three straight run-rule wins. It marks Carson-Newman's first four-game streak with 10+ hits since March 25-27, 2017 when the Eagles rung up that many in back-to-back twin bills against Catawba and Brevard.
This is Carson-Newman's first three-game streak scoring at least 10 or more runs in three straight games since 2014 when the Eagles did it in game two of a doubleheader against Pfeiffer and twice on March 26 against Mars Hill.
"We took a couple days off for spring break," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "It's nice to get back, and get back on the field with this group."
Carson-Newman hasn't swept Tusculum in Greeneville in eight years. The Eagles and Pioneers have split their last three doubleheaders at Red Edmonds Field, with the Eagles winning game one and Tusculum winning game two each time. C-N swept in 2012 winning 9-0 and 6-0.
The Eagles have won nine of the last 11 contests with Tusculum.
"We have to come out with a good mindset," Graves said. "We've struggled to play well at Tusculum in the past. The good thing is this a different team, and hopefully this team won't have the same issues we've had there in the past."
Abby Fiessinger's next home run will be the 30th of her career. She will become the fourth player in program history with 30 career bombs. Two more dingers and she'll match Mary Shealy for third on the all-time list. Fiessinger is 18th among all active players in Division II for career home runs.
There are 21 players in the South Atlantic Conference hitting north of .400 on the year, five of them belong to Carson-Newman (Shannon Smith, KaraLynne Levi, Leah Sohm, Abby Fiessinger and Haley Caldwell). Lenoir-Rhyne has four such players.
"We want to be aggressive swinging at strikes," Graves said. "On the other hand, we need to take walks when they give them to us. So far, we've been fairly disciplined about both of those aspects."
First pitch Saturday is at 1 p.m. Follow @cnathletics on Twitter for live in-game updates.
