VIDEO: Press Conference
WINGATE, N.C. – Carson-Newman (31-18) got a late-inning blast from Brooke Matyasovksy (Orange, Conn.) but it wasn't enough to overcome Francis Marion (42-12) in a 5-3 decision in an elimination game Friday afternoon at the Wingate Softball Complex.
Carson-Newman's NCAA regional run comes to a close after two games, while Francis Marion will try to stave off elimination a second time against Wingate at 4 p.m. Friday.
While the Eagles were 4-for-12 with runners on base, C-N struggled to get hits with runners in scoring position. The Eagles were just 1-for-6 with runners on second or third.
"We got off to a slow start and struggled to get balls out of the infield," Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We had runners in scoring position early and couldn't drive them in. Situations like that in a regional tournament are things you have to take advantage of."
CALL. @SportsCenter ‼️@syerra_rogers belongs in the #SCTop10 for this kick save into a double play
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) May 12, 2023
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Francis Marion got on the board first with a two out rally in the third. The Patriots loaded the bases with two away thanks to a walk, a single and a batter reaching on catcher's interference. On the first pitch she got, Megan Matsil floated a ball into the left centerfield gap. SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) got her glove to it going horizontal from center, but couldn't squeeze it as she slammed into the grass.
Matsil ended up driving in two runs with a double to give FMU a 2-0 lead.
The Patriots offense found its groove again in the bottom of the fifth. Makayla Cuthbertson started things off with an infield single to third. She stole second then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Cuthbertson raced home on a wild pitch. After a four-pitch walk, Matsil drove in her third run of the game with a double down the left field line to make it 4-0.
C-N answered the bell in the sixth. Cameron and Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) started the inning with a single to right and a bash back up the box, respectively. After a ground out, Brooke Matyasovksy (Orange, Conn.) tanked a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left center field for her 51st career home run.
TANKED
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) May 12, 2023
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The three-run moon shot made it a one-run game. However, C-N had runners on second and third when the final out of the inning was made, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
The Patriots answered with more two-out hitting in the bottom of the sixth. Madalyn White sparked the rally with a two-out single up the middle, then Taylor Watford drove a double to the wall in right center to plate White from three bases away and give the Patriots a 5-3 lead.
Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) took the loss in a 4.1-inning start. She surrendered five hits and four runs, all earned. She fanned five while walking four.
Rachel Davis improved to 19-9 with the complete-game win for FMU. She scattered eight hits and struck out three.
The Eagles were retired in order in the top of the seventh to end the season.
