JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the third time in four years, Carson-Newman (8-1) will make a foray into South Carolina to the greater Greenwood area for three contests at the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational Friday and Saturday.
The Eagles were originally scheduled to play four games through the weekend, however, rain his nixed the Eagles one game at Erskine (a matchup at noon against the host Flying Fleet). Instead, Carson-Newman will start the weekend Friday at 5 p.m. against co-host Lander (5-3) at Doug Spears Field. The Eagles then have a couple brunch contests Saturday morning, taking on USC Beaufort (4-2) at 9 and Emmanuel (1-3) at 11. Every game C-N plays this weekend will be at Lander's Doug Spears Field.
Carson-Newman went 4-0 at the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational last season. The Eagles are 10-1 at the event under head coach Michael Graves, with the lone loss coming on a walk-off grand slam to then sixth-ranked Young Harris in 2020
Carson-Newman has gotten off to a hot start offensively, the Eagles are 15th nationally with 60 runs scored and 26th nationally with 6.67 runs per game. Carson-Newman has scored at least five runs in all but one game this season (its 11-3 loss to No. 16 Indianapolis).
Macey Hughes is sitting on 19 career home runs. Her next will put her at 20, making her the 12th player in Carson-Newman softball history with 20 career jacks. Staci Fish (2000-01) and Katie Pritchett (2015-18) sit in a tie for 10th on the all-time list with 21.
Macauley Bailey has been off to a torrid start to her Carson-Newman career. The Powell product leads the SAC and is ninth nationally with five doubles. She is 23rd nationally and fifth in the SAC with three home runs and, and this speaks well to how good softball is in the SAC, fourth nationally, but third in the league in RBI with 17. The freshman already has a pair of four-RBI days to her name.
Eastern Connecticut State transfer Brooke Matyasovsky brings 43 career home runs with her down from Orange, Conn. The grad transfer has the third most home runs in Division III among active players when she left. She enters this season with the third-most in NCAA Division II. By comparison, Sara Kelley holds the Carson-Newman career record for bombs with 35 (we should note, that Carson-Newman has the deepest park in the Southeast Region at 220 to center and 210 down the lines).
Carson-Newman has won seven consecutive in its series with Lander. The Eagles lead the all-time ledger 14-3 and have won seven straight in the series dating back to a 7-4 loss to start a doubleheader at The Vick on Feb. 12, 2013. Carson-Newman has won in run-rule fashion in back-to-back seasons.
Carson-Newman has never played USC Beaufort before. The awesomely named Sand Sharks are in their first year reclassifying as an NCAA Division II institution and a first-year member of the PeachBelt after competing in the NAIA and Sun Conference since 2008.
The Eagles wrap up the weekend with Emmanuel. Carson-Newman swept a doubleheader with the Lions earlier in the season, 8-5 and 7-6. The Eagles lead the all-time series 4-0.
First pitch for the Eagles' weekend is set for 5 p.m. Friday at Lander. Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live updates throughout the weekend's games.
