JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (7-9, 0-0 South Atlantic Conference) opens up league play with its longest conference road trip of the year – a five-hour trek to Saleeby-Stokes Field to take on Coker (6-9) with a noon doubleheader Tuesday.
This marks the first time in five seasons that the Eagles haven't opened conference play against Mars Hill. C-N swept all but one league-opening twinbill from the Lions in that span.
"We have to start playing better," head softball coach Michael Graves said. "We're not playing horribly. However, we want to be great. We've got to cut out the mistakes and get better."
Carson-Newman has won seven straight games against Coker - the longest win streak by either team in the series. Coker hasn't tallied a win in the series since a 1-0 win to finish a 2019 doubleheader at The Vick.
Coker has been much stronger away from Saleeby-Stokes Field this season than at home. The Cobras are 1-7 in the home park, but 5-2 in road affairs. Coker's pitching staff has given up seven bombs and has a WHIP of 2.39 at home. That drops to 1.76 on the road.
C-N is looking for its first road win since opening day. C-N has lost five consecutive road games dating back to the 10-2 opening-day win over Eckerd.
Tight games have been C-N's kryptonite to start this season. The Eagles are 1-5 in games decided by two runs or fewer. In Michael Graves first five seasons at C-N, the Eagles were 33-19 in games decided by one run.
Macey Hughes enters her senior season poised to make some inroads into the Carson-Newman softball record books. Macey Hughes sits in eighth place in Carson-Newman history for career home runs with 24, she is tied with Mandy Stevens. Next up on the all-time list is Lisa Rogers, who had 26 from 2003-06. Sara Kelley (2010-14) holds the program's all-time record with 35. Hughes is also top 10 all-time in RBI with 140. She sits in eighth, three away from sixth place and KaraLynne Levi and Lisa Rogers, who both drove in 143 for their careers.
Macauley Bailey sits on 21 career home runs, the 13th player in school history with 20 career blasts. She is tied with Katie Pritchett and Staci Fish for the 11th most in a career in school history. Her next home run will draw her level with two-time All-American Elayna Siebert and her 22 home runs for 10th all-time.
Starting pitcher Emma Frost has been overpowering in the cirlce in her last three starts. Of the last 54 outs that C-N has record in the circle over her last 18.0 innings of work, Frost has record 30 via a strikeout. She has retired 64 percent of the outs she has made over her last two starts via Ks. With 618 career Ks, Frost is 10th among active players in NCAA Division II in career strikeouts.
First pitch between Carson-Newman and Coker is slated for noon Tuesday. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloSB.
