JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (28-12, 8-8 South Atlantic Conference) will try to break out of a three-game losing streak and a four-game road losing streak when it makes the short jaunt along 11-E to challenge in-state rival Tusculum (21-16, 8-8 SAC) Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Red Edmunds Field.
Carson-Newman hasn't won away from The Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex since March 19 when it outscored Catawba 30-0 over 10 innings and two run-rule, shutout wins.
Since then, the Eagles have been swept in consecutive road, league doubleheaders against Newberry and Lincoln Memorial.
In the broader scheme, C-N is trying to put a halt to a three-game losing streak overall. A sweep by Tusculum would put C-N at five straight losses, matching a school record shared by the 2012 and 2019 teams for consecutive losses.
While Carson-Newman's offense has been stratospherically good this season, it has run into a spot of bother on its three-game losing streak with situational hitting. Carson-Newman, in spite of tallying 26 hits in those three games, is just 3-for-25 (.120) with runners in scoring position and 9-for-42 (.214) with runners on base. C-N is hitting a respectable, albeit not spectacular .295 as a team overall in this stretch.
C-N has won five of the last six games against the Pioneers, with Tusculum taking an 8-4 win in the opening game of a doubleheader last year at The Vick to account for the lone win in the last three years.
Emily Harris, NCAA Division II's active hits leader, sits on 316 knocks coming into the doubleheader. With three more hits, she will move into the top 20 all-time in NCAA Division II history. She presently sits with the 24th most hits in Division II all-time.
Carson-Newman ranks in the top 10 nationally in nine offensive categories. The Eagles lead the nation in doubles per game (2.20). C-N ranks second in hits (436) and third in doubles (88). The Eagles are fourth in runs per game (7.85) and triples (23). C-N ranks fifth in batting average (.372) and total runs scored (314). The Eagles have the sixth highest on-base percentage (.438) and the seventh most triples per game (.57).
Macey Hughes is third in the country with 55 RBI this season. Hughes has four games this year with at least four RBI and three with five or more. With eight games remaining in the regular season, Hughes is 20 RBI away from Brittany Hefner's (2013) school and SAC record 75 RBI for a single season.
Hughes has hit 12 home runs this season, she has the 17th double-digit home run season in school history and is tied for fifth in school history for a single season with Sara Little, Bre Lockett, Sara Kelley, Mary Shealy and Erin Rutherford. Her 13th home run will move her into a tied with Lindsay Dean (2016) for fourth, while her 13th will draw her level with Elayna Siebert (2015) for third. Brittany Hefner (2013) holds the single-season record with 19.
Emily Harris and Leah Sohm are two of the most prodigious hitters in the country. Harris is second the nation with 67 knocks, while Sohm is seventh with 62. They are one and two in the league for most hits this season and have two of the four highest batting averages in the conference. Every Carson-Newman softball player who has tallied 69 or more hits in a season has been named an All-American.
First pitch from Red Edmunds Field is set for 2 p.m. Follow @CN_Eagles for live coverage of the contests.
