JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (33-15, 13-11 South Atlantic Conference) will make the short trek of 25-E to Harrogate to crank open play in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament with a matchup with third-seeded Wingate (35-16, 17-7 SAC) Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.
The Eagles swept the regular season series with the Bulldogs, winning game one in walk-off fashion 5-4 before run-ruling the Bulldogs in the night cap 14-6. The Eagles have four straight wins over Wingate, and will be searching for their first five-game win streak over the Bulldogs since 1995-96.
Carson-Newman, which has a league best 11 SAC tournament titles, has won tournament titles in two of the last four years and played for a tournament title in three of the last four seasons.
Carson-Newman and Wingate meet in the SAC tournament for the 21st time all-time. Nearly a quarter of the Eagles and Bulldogs all-time meetings have come in SAC tournament play.
The Eagles lead the all-time tournament ledger 11-9. The Bulldogs have taken three of the last four tournament outings with a 5-1 win in 2016, a 4-1 triumph in 2014 and a 3-2 decision in 2012 all before C-N prevailed in last year's quarterfinals 7-3 to give C-N its first postseason win over Wingate since a 2-0 win in 2009.
Emily Harris, NCAA Division II's active hits leader, sits on 327 knocks coming into the tournament. She's 14th in NCAA Division II history for career hits. Four more hits will move her into a tie for 11th all-time with Christa Reisinger of Truman.
Carson-Newman ranks in the top 10 nationally in eight offensive categories. C-N is third nationally in doubles per game (2.15) and hits (500). The Eagles rank fourth in doubles (103), fifth in runs scored (356) and seventh in triples (23). C-N is ninth in batting average (.360), and runs per game (7.42). Carson-Newman ranks 10th in stolen bases 118.
Macey Hughes is sixth in the country with 60 RBI this season. Hughes has four games this year with at least four RBI and three with five or more. With two games remaining in the regular season, Hughes is 15 RBI away from Brittany Hefner's (2013) school and SAC record 75 RBI for a single season. Hughes is tied with Sara Kelley for the fifth most RBI in a single season in school history, two more and she'll draw level with Hall of Famer Whitney Hickam Cruze.
Hughes has hit 13 home runs this season, she has the 17th double-digit home run season in school history and is tied for fourth in school history for a single season with Lindsay Dean (2016) for fourth. Her 14th will draw her level with Elayna Siebert (2015) for third, while her 15th would put her even with Staci Fish (2001) for second. 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 leads the nation with 78 knocks, while Sohm is 10th with 68. Harris has the fourth highest batting average in the country. Every Carson-Newman softball player who has tallied 69 or more hits in a season has been named an All-American.
Harris needs two more hits to join the 80-hit club at C-N. Only four players in program history have produced 80 or more hits in a year (Carol Zachary Mitchell, Kelli Hensley, Jessie Howard and Sammi Hatcher Chafin).
Carson-Newman has triple-digit stolen bases for the fifth time in school history (118-127). At present standing it's the best stolen base percentage in school history and the first season in school history highlighted by three players (Leah Sohm, Emily Harris and Natalie Corbin) who have all stolen at least 20 bases. Carson-Newman is seven stolen bases away from setting a single-season school record for swipes.
First pitch between Carson-Newman and Wingate is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday. Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live updates of the game.
