VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
ANDERSON, S.C. – Carson-Newman (27-13, 12-10 South Atlantic Conference) fell in walk-off and run-rule fashion in a sweep at the hands of Anderson (28-18, 12-12 SAC) Thursday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.
The Trojans got a seventh-inning RBI single from Jessica Neadow to prevail 4-3 in game one before rolling to a 9-1 win in the nightcap behind a six-run third inning.
The sweep is the first for the Trojans at home against Carson-Newman since 2013. The run-rule win in the nightcap is the first time AU has run-ruled C-N since 2014 and just the sixth time C-N has been run-ruled in the last six years.
"We are not very disciplined at the plate right now and we are struggling in the circle," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We had some good moments in both areas and have made some headway, but we also have moments where we regress. This was some of the same things over and over and over for problems that have haunted us at times this season."
The losses mean Carson-Newman is mathematically eliminated from hosting a site for the South Atlantic Conference tournament. C-N can finish anywhere from as high as third to as low as eighth with two games remaining in the league.
GAME ONE: Anderson 4, Carson-Newman 3
Anderson lit the lamp first thanks to free passes. Three walks sandwiched a strikeout and a sacrifice to load the bases for the Trojans with two out in the first. Four straight pitches to Carson Hobbs out of the zone awarded her first and brought in the go-ahead run. A wild pitch nearly scored a second run, but Kayson Boatner was retired at the plate 2-1 to end the inning and limit the damage to a run.
The Trojans extended that lead in the second. Olivia Wheeler walked to lead off the inning and took second and third on a pair of groundouts. She scored when Ava Worth stung a single into center on a two-strike pitch to put the Trojans ahead 2-0.
AU used more two-out hitting to add another run in the fourth. Carson Hobbs singled to center to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a groundout. Yas Laureano drove her in with a single to center to push the lead to 3-0.
The Eagles got a run back in the fifth. Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) got on base with a bunt single to the catcher. A throwing error moved her to second. Then, with SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.), Robbins swiped third and scored on a throwing error to pull C-N within a pair of runs, 3-1.
Carson-Newman extended the game in the seventh. Carmen Holt (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) lined a one-out triple to right. After a sinking lineout to right, Robbins roped a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left to tie the game at 3-3.
Unfortunately, the moment only enhanced the dramatic for Anderson. AU walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. AU loaded the bases without an out thanks to a pair of walks sandwiching a bunt single. Jessica Neadow blooped a single into left center to produce the winning run and get AU the 4-3 win.
Hailey Leslie took the loss in relief to fall to 1-1 on the season. She pitched 5.0 innings, giving up six hits and two runs, both earned. She issued three walks and struck out one.
Carson Hobbs dealt the complete-game win for AU to improve to 12-7. She fired 7.0 innings, giving up five hits and three runs, two earned. She walked one, but didn't strike anyone out.
GAME TWO: Anderson 9, Carson-Newman 1 (five innings)
Carson-Newman quickly found its offensive footing in the nightcap. C-N struck first as Robbins grooved a double to right center and then scored a batter later when Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) roped a single inside the third base bag to give C-N a 1-0 lead after the opening half inning.
Anderson roared in front in the bottom of the second. Neadow drilled a double off the wall in left center with one out before Carson Hobbs drew a walk. Oliva Wheeler made C-N pay belting a home run to left center, her ninth of the year, to give AU a 3-1 lead.
The Trojans really played add on in the third, scoring six times off five hits and an error. After a groundout started the inning, Maddie Carpenter and Morgan Charter went back-to-back with doubles to plate the first run of the game. After a walk and a fielder's choice, Hobbs lifted a single into right center which preceded a Wheeler two-run double to left.
Laureano rounded out the scoring when she reached on an error and saw two runs come in.
Carson-Newman couldn't push across a run in either the fourth or fifth innings to extend the game.
Five of the Trojans eight hits in game two were for extra bases.
Gattis took the loss for C-N to fall to 9-6. She pitched 3.0 innings and gave up seven hits and nine runs, seven earned.
Lane Edgington improved to 11-9 for the Trojans with the triumph. She surrendered three hits and gave up a run while walking two and fanning one.
Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne have moved their regular season finale to Sunday at 1 p.m. due to the threat of rain in Hickory.
