ALBERTVILLE, Ala. – Carson-Newman (7-0) battled the elements and the Bucs (2-4) to grit out a rain-shortened 7-5 win over Christian Brothers Saturday at Sand Mountain Park.
Carson-Newman took the first ever meeting with the Gulf South opponent in five innings before a matchup in the nightcap with Union was completely washed away.
The Eagles bounded out to an early lead on the Bucs before stiff-arming Christian Brothers to the five-inning win.
"In very difficult playing conditions, the girls kept finding ways to score runs to keep a lead," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "In return on defense, we made plays and overcame some walks to hold them to minimal damage. We went through three good pitchers who contributed to the win but it was raining hard and there was just no way for anybody to pinpoint spots on the mound. I hate the top of the sixth was not counted because we really exploded offensively."
Carson-Newman exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth inning before the game was called. However, the score reverts to the final completed inning, so the fact that the Eagles had the game in run-rule territory technically never happened.
The Eagles scored four runs in the first inning to stake themselves to a big early lead. C-N started the game with the bases loaded thanks to a walk to Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.), a single to center for Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) and a walk to Macauley Bailey (Powell, Tenn.). Brooke Matysavsky drilled a single to drive in one before a wild pitch scored Hughes.
Back-to-back bases on balls brought in another run with Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) getting credit for the RBI. Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished the scoring in the first with a sacrifice fly to center to put the Eagles up 4-0 after a half inning.
C-N used aggressive base-running tactics to add a run in the second. Robbins bunted herself aboard to lead off the inning and promptly stole second. After Hughes walked, the pair pulled off a double steal. As Robbins slid into third, the throw caromed off her helmet and into left, allowing her to score – giving Carson-Newman a 5-0 cushion.
CBU countered in the bottom of the second. The Bucs loaded the bases without an out with a pair of walks and an infield single. Kiera Coulon struck a sacrifice fly to left, but the Bucs could do no further damage after a fielder's choice and a foul out.
Two-out magic was the name of the game for CBU in the third. Memory Willingham sparked a rally with a two-out double to plate one before she chased C-N starter Rylee Gattis (Southside, Ala.). Kate Candies singled through the left side to bring in the second run of the inning.
Carson-Newman got those runs back in the top of the fourth. Bailey and Matyasovsky jump-started the inning with back-to-back doubles to score one. After a foul out, Warder joined the party with a gap-shot double to left-center to put the Eagles up 7-3.
Elaina McGill set the final margin in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out, two-run single for CBU.
Carson-Newman scored six times in the top of the six before the game was called off. Mary Vandergriff would have been the first player in school history with two sac flies in a single game had the result stood. While an RBI single for Hughes and a three-run double for Bailey were also taken off the board.
Gattis got a no-decision in a 2.2-inning start where she failed to hit the pitching minimum. She gave up two hits and three runs after walking four and striking out one.
Hailey Leslie (Cleveland, Tenn.) logged the win in her first career appearance. She pitched an inning, giving up three hits and two runs.
Riley Sikes (Powell, Tenn.) gets credit for a 1.1-inning save after scattering three hits in her shutout relief effort.
Olivia Renta dropped to 0-2 after failing to record an out in her start. She gave up two hits, four earned runs while walking four.
Matyasovsky paced C-N at the plate with a 2-for-2 day. She and Warder both drove in two runs.
Carson-Newman wraps up its time at the Charger Chillout Sunday at 11 a.m. against No. 16 Indianapolis before taking on Shorter at 1:30 p.m. Follow @cn_eagles on Twitter for live updates.
