JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time in the last decade, Carson-Newman (13-3, 4-0 South Atlantic Conference) has produced six consecutive double-digit hit performances.
The Eagles will look to carry the lumber, an eight-game winning streak and the country's fifth-highest scoring offense into a match up at King (10-12, 0-0 Conference Carolinas) Thursday at 1 p.m.
Carson-Newman already has one win over the Tornado this season, a 9-0, run-rule decision at the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational in early February.
A Shannon Smith (Channahon, Ill.) grand slam and a seven-run second highlighted the Eagles five-inning win back on Feb. 15.
"We have to have a good mindset going into these contests," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We played really well the first time we played them, and I know King is better than how they played us back in February. We have got to be ready for their best shot."
The Tornado has won three straight, including a 4-1 win over then No. 17 Lenoir-Rhyne before sweeping a doubleheader from Shepherd.
King features both the reigning Conference Carolinas Player and Pitcher of the Week in Sydney Bailey and Emma Hughes.
Hughes had another big week, going 2-0 in two starts for the Tornado. In her first start, she was masterful in a complete game victory over 17th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University. In the contest she allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. Following a two-out hit in the first to the fifth innings, she retired 11 straight Bear hitters. The Rogersville, Tenn., native followed that with a complete game in a 3-2 win over Shepherd University on Saturday. In the contest she allowed two runs on six hits and struck out four. For the week she had an ERA of 1.50 in 14 innings pitched.
Bailey had a big weekend for the Tornado, ripping three doubles in a 9-6 win over Shepherd. In the game she went 4-for-4 and drove in a pair. Bailey then ripped her first career home run in game two, helping King to the 3-2 victory. For the week she hit .455 and slugged 1.000.
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.
Carson-Newman has been a hitting maching to start the year. The Eagles' .352 batting average is good for the sixth highest in the country and second in the offensively-charged SAC. Carson-Newman has accrued 10 double--digit hit performances, including six consecutive. Carson-Newman hasn't put together six straight double-digit hit performances since 2014 from Feb. 16 in the second game of a doubleheader against Belmont Abbey to Feb. 22 and the first game of a doubleheader against Erskine. This is tied for the longest streak with double-digit hits since digital records for Carson-Newman softball started in 2009.
KaraLynne Levi's bat has been scorched by fire to start her senior season. Levi rides a six-game hitting streak into the King contest and a string of five straight multi-hit games. She has hit successfully in all but two contests this year en route to hitting .510. Levi leads the SAC and ranks 11th nationally in batting average. Her eight doubles are tied for fourth in the league and 22nd in the country.
King's 9-3 win on Feb. 15, 2018 represents the last win by a Conference Carolinas program over the Eagles. C-N has won 19 straight against the league, and are 65-13 against schools from the conference over the last seven seasons. The Eagles have swept the Tornado in their last two visits to Bristol.
Follow @cnathletics on Twitter for live updates for the contests Thursday at 1 p.m.
