VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Mary Vandergriff Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman (33-15, 13-11 South Atlantic Conference) rode some timely knocks and a stellar pitching performance in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split with No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne (36-13, 18-6 SAC) Saturday on Senior Day at the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex.
Lenoir-Rhyne won a pitcher's duel to start the day 2-1 before the Eagles tallied five hits in 12 tries with runners in scoring position to secure a 6-2 win in the nightcap and a spot in the SAC tournament.
"They absolutely came together as a team," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We're back to playing the way we did at the beginning of the year. We have so many people trying to win ball games for us. The dugout's been up and multiple pieces have come together to play really well."
Morgen Baker-Celis (Kentfield, Calif.) and Sara King (Cumming, Ga.) both shined in the circle. While King didn't have the run support in game one, she still scattered just four hits and struck out five. Meanwhile, Baker-Celis kept the Bears at bay for a win in the night cap allowing just three hits.
"We know they can do it," Graves said. "It's a matter of getting in a rhythm and reacting well when something does go bad. When things went bad today, we did our jobs, and that's what we have to do against good teams in the circle."
Mary Vandergriff paced the Eagles at the plate going 4-for-7 with four driven in and a double.
"Her pitch selection was great today," Graves said. "She's got a pretty swing. She swung at strikes today and put some crucial balls in play."
Emily Harris was 2-for-2 in the nightcap to move into a tie for 14th in NCAA Division II history for hits in a career with 326.
GAME ONE: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne 2, Carson-Newman 1
It took until the sixth inning for Lenoir-Rhyne to break through against C-N. The Bears started the frame with a walk to Savannah Moorefield and a double blasted off the pitcher Sara King (Cumming, Ga.) that kicked into left field to give the Bears two in scoring position with out an out. A wild pitch scored Moorefield to give L-R the lead before Julie Mardigian scorched a single up the middle to plate a second run for a 2-0 lead.
Carson-Newman made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Harris worked a one-out walk before Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) cranked a single down the right field line to give the Eagles runners on the corners.
After a foul out to first, Vandergriff got C-N within a run and the tying run to third with an RBI single through the right side.
However, C-N couldn't extend the rally and a pop up ended the contest.
Lauren Rakes shined in the circle for the Bears. She dealt the complete-game three hitter. Rakes struck out 11 and walked one. The seventh inning was the only inning C-N had a runner in scoring position. Rakes retired 12 straight at one point.
King was the unlucky loser to fall to 16-8. She scattered four hits while walking three and fanning five.
GAME TWO: Carson-Newman 6, No. 23 Lenoir- Rhyne 2
The Bears struck first in game two. After Moorefield walked to lead off the inning, the centerfielder stole second. On a 1-2 pitch, Margidian drilled a two-out double to the wall in right center to give the Bears a 1-0 lead after a half inning.
Carson-Newman countered immediately. Natalie Corbin (Tybee Island, Ga.) led off the inning with a single to center before Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) bunted back to the circle looking for a sacrifice. The ball was mishandled, allowing Sohm to reach. After the duo stole second and third, Emily Harris (Cumming, Ga.) laid down a bunt single up the third base line to plate Corbin and tie the game at a run apiece. After a walk and a strikeout, Mary Vandergriff (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) ripped a 1-2 pitch to left to score two runs and give C-N a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles padded some insurance in the bottom of the fifth. Mary Vandergriff (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) knocked a double to left before Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) drove her in with a two-out double down the right field line that extended the edge to 4-1.
The Bears got it back to a two-run game in the top of the sixth thanks to Kylee Leonhardt and a two-out solo blast to left center.
However, the Eagles answered in the bottom of the sixth. Sohm hit a one-out ground-rule double to right center before Harris plopped a bunt single down the third base line. After Harris stole second, Hughes walked to load the bases. Hayden Dye (Powell, Tenn.) drove in Sohm with a sac fly to left center before Vandergriff tallied her third RBI of the day with a single to left to give the Eagles all the insurance they would need, and set the final margin at 6-2.
The Bears went down in order in the seventh.
Baker-Celis retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced to improve to 5-1 in the circle. She scattered three hits and gave up two runs, both earned. The senior issued two walks and fanned six.
Morgan Beeler started and took the loss for L-R to fall to 15-9. She pitched the first 1.2 innings with five walks. She gave up three hits and three runs, two earned.
C-N is the six seed for the SAC tournament and will play Wingate at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening.
