ALBERTVILLE, Ala. – Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) became the first Carson-Newman pitcher to hurl a no-hitter since 2019 and Carson-Newman (8-1) run-ruled Shorter (3-6) in the nightcap 13-0 in five innings to salvage a split on the final day at the Charger Chillout.
Carson-Newman wraps up the weekend 4-1 after falling in run-rule fashion to start the day to No. 16 Indianapolis 11-3.
"I am definitely not happy about the way we came out in game one," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We didn't pitch it well and then we came in and didn't have very good at bats to start that game. Once we settled in the damage had already been done at that point. I thought Nicko did a very good job coming in in relief when we were struggling to throw strikes. After the first couple of innings, I thought we played with Indy toe to toe. Hopefully we learn from this game and if so, then it's not as bad as it looks right now."
The loss to UIndy snapped a seven-game win streak to open the year.
However, Rogers brought her flamethrower to the party in the nightcap. The sophomore pitcher recorded nine strikeouts in five innings of work. She walked three and hit one to record the first no-hitter for the program since Allison Rager mowed down Anderson in the opening game of the 2019 Southeast Regional.
"It's awesome to know I have an amazing catcher behind the plate who is very, very encouraging and a stacked defense who has my back when I don't throw that perfect pitch," Rogers said. "For me today it was very beneficial to have all my pitches working so we were able to work all over the plate."
Rogers recorded the first five outs of game two via strikeouts before the Hawks actually put a ball into play. Only one ball was hit beyond the infield.
"We had a long talk in between games and we're actually a little late getting to game two and the umpires were waiting on us," Graves said. "But we came out in game two with a much different mindset and had a lot better swings. I don't think I need to say anything about the adjustments that Syerra Rogers made on the mound. She was exceptional. She came out and threw strikes and very hard in game two. This is the type of game that we are used to playing and the type of game that I expect in the future. I think from here on out, you will see a much more business-like approach from this group."
GAME ONE: No. 16 Indianapolis 11, Carson-Newman 3 (six innings)
For just the third time since Michael Graves took over as head coach, Carson-Newman found itself on the wrong side of the run-rule.
The Greyhounds pounced on Carson-Newman miscues. UIndy hung a five-sport in the first inning thanks to five walks and a hit batter. Three off the runs scored that inning came on walks or hit batters with the bases loaded. The other two runs came in on an RBI fielder's choice and an RBI single to short.
UIndy stretched its lead to 7-0 in the second with an Emily O'Connor, two-run home run.
Carson-Newman got a run back in the third thanks to an RBI single from Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.), however, the Greyhounds answered with a solo blast in the top of the fourth from Dominique Proctor.
The Eagles got the game back down to six runs in the fifth with an Abbi Martin (Etowah, Ala.) RBI double, the first of her career. UIndy took the game into run-rule territory in the top of the sixth inning with three unearned runs off two C-N errors.
Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) trimmed the deficit to eight with an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth, but the rally ended there.
Rylee Gattis (Southside, Ala.) suffered her first loss of the year in a 0.2-inning start. She allowed one hit, three walks, a hit batter and five runs. She falls to 2-1.
Kenzee Smith went the distance for the Greyhounds. She dealt six innings of five-hit, three-run ball. She walked two and fanned eight.
GAME TWO: Carson-Newman 13, Shorter 0 (five innings)
Carson-Newman pounced on Shorter early. SieAnna Cameron (Friendsville, Tenn.) and Hughes singled to lead off the game. Macauley Bailey (Powell, Tenn.) bashed a double to drive that pair in and give C-N a 2-0 lead after one.
The Eagles added to it in the second. After an error and a walk, Cameron slashed a tripled to plate both base runners before Hughes went yard for the 19th time in her career for a four-run second.
C-N played add on in the third. Infield singles for Warder and Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) gave the Eagles two runners. A groundball out moved the pair into scoring position before a pinch-running Alaina Smith (Lebanon, Tenn.) raced home on a wild pitch to put C-N ahead 7-0.
Carson-Newman broke open for four more runs in the fourth. Hughes tripled to bring in one, Bailey clobbered her third home run of the season to bring in two more before a fielding error scored the final run of the frame.
C-N rounded out the scoring in the fifth with an RBI single from Cameron and a strikeout/passed ball that produced the final run of the game.
Rogers was sublime. She struck out nine en route to improving to 3-0 on the year behind her first career no-hitter. She has the third no-hitter produced under Michael Graves tutelage (Allison Rager has the others).
Ellie Brunson dropped to 0-2 for Shorter. She dealt the first 1.1 innings, giving up six hits and six runs, all earned. Of the six hits she allowed, three were for extra bases.
Cameron was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs scored. Both figures are career highs for her. Macey Hughes was 3-for-4 at the plate with three driven in. She pounded her 19th career home run and came within a double of the cycle.
Bailey drove in a career-high four runs and clocked her fifth double of the year and her fourth home run.
C-N is in action next weekend at the Bearcat/Fleet Invite at Erskine and Lander.
