VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (6-2, 1-1 South Atlantic Conference) will try to pick up its bats from where the Eagles left off before an eight-day layoff while searching for improved pitching when Coker (4-4, 0-2 SAC) comes to down for a league doubleheader Thursday at 11 a.m.
Carson-Newman has been swinging the hottest bat in the South Atlantic Conference this season. The Eagles lead the league in batting average and are 24th nationally hitting .344. With a .455 on-base percentage, Carson-Newman also leads the league and ranks 14th nationally.
Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Katie Eakes (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) are both hitting north of .500 for the year.
"We've worked hard in the cage, so hopefully the bats are still where they were when we left off," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "Hopefully our pitchers have used this time to figure out what's gone wrong when we've given up the home run ball."
However, as good as Carson-Newman's bats have been of late, the Eagles' pitching staff has given up 13 home runs, the most in the league for a team that has played the second-fewest games.
Coker and Carson-Newman have battled back and forth of late. The teams have split the last three doubleheaders played in Jefferson City (2014, 2016 and 2019). Coker has owned regular season meetings in Hartsville, winning four straight, but Carson-Newman has balanced that out by winning four straight over the Cobras in SAC tournament games.
Coker has turned six double plays this season. That figure leads the nation. Kayla Oswell, Bailey Douglas and Makayla Cuthbertson have been involed with three of the two-turners.
In spite of the prolificness of turning two, Coker has struggled at times in the field. The Cobras .936 fielding percentage is last in the SAC and ranks 131 out of 160 teams competing nationally. Coker has played error free in two of its eight games this year. The Cobras have four games this year where they have made at least three errors.
Keely Quillen has one of the country's odder slash lines to start her senior year. The Gate City, Va. native is hitting just .111, but still has an innate knack for getting on base. Her OBP is .500. She has walked three times and been plunked five times, a total that ranks fourth in the country. In spite of being 1-for-11 at the plate, Quillen has driven in three runs, the fifth most on the team.
Leah Sohm has been fleet-of-foot and highly dangerous on the base paths. The senior's six stolen bases are second in the conference and 14th nationally. After being caught stealing on her first attempt of the year, Sohm has swiped six bags in succession.
First pitch between the Eagles and Cobras is set for 11 a.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network will be available at cneagles.com/live.
