VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
VIDEO: Morgen Baker-Celis Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the 20th time in school history, Carson-Newman softball is headed into postseason play.
The Eagles will make their 16th foray into NCAA tournament play and their 20th overall when they make the 2:45 trek along I-40 to Hickory, N.C. to open up the Southeast Regional against third-seeded North Georgia Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
"We're obviously excited," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "This was one of our goals at the beginning of the year. We're thrilled to be here and excited to see where it goes for us."
Carson-Newman has won a game in three of its last four trips to regionals. The Eagles picked up wins over Augusta 6-3 in 2015, Georgia College 2-1 in 2018 (the last time the Eagles played in a regional in Hickory) and run-ruled Anderson 13-0 in 2019. Carson-Newman was two-and-out of the regional in 2017.
The Eagles are looking for their second ever appearance Super Regional appearance and the first since 2009. Carson-Newman opened that 2009 tournament with a 6-5 win over USC Aiken before defeating the host Lenoir-Rhyne Bears twice, 6-4 and 2-1 before heading to top-ranked North Georgia, where the Eagles fell 6-3 and 1-0 to the Nighthawks.
C-N is 0-4 all-time against the Nighthawks. The Eagles last matched wits with the Peach Belt Champions in 2012, losing 6-1 at the Mid-South Classic.
Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne comprise the other portion of the sub-regional. The Eagles were a combined 5-1 against those two programs this season, eliminating both from the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship last weekend.
The other side of the regional will take place in Anderson, S.C. where the host Trojans square off with Francis Marion. Lincoln Memorial and King occupy the four and five spots.
Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live updates of the games.
