VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
VIDEO: SieAnna Cameron Interview
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Carson-Newman (14-1) used a seventh-inning base hit from SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) stretch its win streak to seven and go 2-0 on the first day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic Friday at the South Commons.
Carson-Newman had zero drama in game one, run-ruling Northern State (4-1) in five innings 11-3. However, it took three-straight, two-out base hits in the top of the seventh inning in the nightcap against Columbus State (5-3) to secure the second win on the day.
"I think pitching was great today," Carson-Newman head coach Michael Graves said. "We got off to a rough start in game 1, but the Riley (Gattis) (Sikes) was in effect today. Sikes came in and pitched some good innings and then Gattis was just phenomenal in game two. She kept them so off balance and that's a good hitting team we just played. Defensively, we played great both games. I know the box score may not show it, in our hits and at bats, but I thought we hit the ball well in two straight games. We took some good swings and made good plays all day."
GAME ONE: Carson-Newman 11, Northern State 3 (five innings)
Both teams scored early before Carson-Newman used a big inning to create separation.
C-N lit the lamp first in the top of the first thanks to Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.). Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) doubled to left to lead off the game before taking third on a wild pitch. Hughes plated her with a sacrifice fly to left to give C-N a 1-0 lead after a half inning.
NSU responded immediately. Taylor Hoelscher led off the game with a solo bomb to left center. The Wolves then loaded the bases to chase starter Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) from the game with a hit batter, a single, a sacrifice and a walk. Elly Smith plated another run with a single, but reliever Riley Sikes (Powell, Tenn.) got a strike out and a pop up to the catcher to end the threat.
C-N blew the barn doors off the thing with a seven-run second. After a ground out started the frame, C-N loaded the bases with three straight singles. Robbins bounced a single into left to score two before Hughes drove in Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) with her second sacrifice fly of the day. Hughes is the first player in Carson-Newman softball history with multiple sacrifice flies in the same game.
The inning continued thanks to a costly NSU error. Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) reached on a muffed throw to first to not only extend the inning, but also score Robbins to put the Eagles up 5-2. Brooke Matyasovsky (Orange, Conn.) and Kennady Wader (Harrodsburg, Ky.) made the Wolves pay. Matyasovsky doubled before Warder brought everyone home with a three-run home run to center. When the dust cleared, the Eagles led 8-2.
C-N added three more runs to push the game into run-rule territory. Martin scored one in the third on an RBI ground out, while Carmen Holt (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) and Martin finished the scoring in the fifth with an RBI triple and single back up the middle.
The Wolves looked to rally to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth. Two singles put the Wolves in business. With two in scoring position and one out, Avarie Eagle hit a ball right in front of the catch. The Eagles turned a rare 2-3-5 double play that allowed one run to come it, but also finished off the game making the final out at third to end the game via the run-rule.
Sikes got the win in relief to improve to 3-0. She pitched the final 4.2 innings, giving up four hits and a run. She struck out three, but didn't walk anyone.
Lexi Chase took the loss for NSU to fall to 0-1. She pitched the first 1.2 innings and gave up eight hits and eight runs, four of them were earned. She struck out two and gave up four extra-base hits.
Five Eagles, Robbins, Martin, Holt Matyasovsky and Dye, all had multi-hit efforts. Warder drove in a game-high three runs.
GAME TWO: Carson-Newman 2, Columbus State 1
Columbus State's outfield arms were on display early to limit Eagle damage. Carson-Newman looked to start out with early run production. SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) led off the game with an infield single. She tried to score from three bases away on a Hughes base hit, but got gunned at the plate 9-2. C-N left Hughes on third in the inning.
C-N broke through in the fourth, barely. Warder walked with one out and moved to second when Dye nipped an infield single to third. Holt drilled a ball to right center that plated Warder, but only just before Dye was retired at third base 8-5 to end the inning. However, C-N did grab the lead 1-0.
Columbus State answered in the bottom of the sixth. The Cougars loaded the bases without an out thanks to a double, a walk and a single. Rylee Gattis (Southside, Ala.) induced a popup to second to put the first out on the board. Then, Brooke Miller lifted a deep fly ball to left center. Cameron tracked it down with a diving grab, but Madeline Parker tagged from third and scored to tie the game. However, Gattis got a final fly out to limit the damage to a single run.
The Eagles sparked a two-out rally to take the lead back in the seventh. Holt ripped a base hit through the right side before Martin dropped a single to left. That set the table for Cameron. With the infield playing in, Cameron dribbled a two-strike pitch into no man's land beyond second base. It had just enough sauce on it to score a pinch-running Robbins from second and put C-N up 2-1.
"They started to shift on me and played me more in," Cameron said. "They put their third baseman back to take away the steal from second. I just really focused on puhsing it over their head. I knew the runner at second (Robbins) was pretty quick and can score as long as I put it over their head. They kind of came inside and jammed me with the inside pitch and I just barely got my barrel through."
Gattis then sat down the Cougars in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Gattis picked up the win to improve to 4-1. She struck out three and walked one in giving up six hits.
Hannah Rose Corbin took the loss for CSU to fall to 3-2. She fanned five and walked two while working around eight hits.
Carson-Newman returns to action at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Embry-Riddle and No. 17 Alabama Huntsville. Both games will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
