JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (12-10, 2-0 South Atlantic Conference) will aim to continue its offensive resurgence when it squares off with the conference's leader in shutouts in taking on Limestone (15-7, 0-2 SAC) at Babe Ruth Field Wednesday at 1 p.m.
After starting the season 2-8, Carson-Newman has rattled off 10 wins in its last 12 games. The Eagles are hitting .375 as a team in that stretch while averaging 9.91 runs per game. The Eagles have socked 22 home runs in that stretch.
Limestone pitcher Chelsey Stonesifer is off to a stellar start to the season. Stonesifer leads the SAC and is ranked in the top 20 nationally in both shutouts (three - ranked 12th) and hits allowed per seven innings (3.87 - ranked 17th). She ranks second in the league in victories this season with seven.
Limestone has taken three of the last four meetings between the teams after C-N saw its eight-game winning streak in the series come to an end on March 15, 2022.
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 144. She sits in sixth, needing 10 more RBI to move into the top five all-time. Stevens also occupies that spot with 157 all-time.
Macauley Bailey sits on 24 career home runs, the 13th player in school history with 20 career blasts. Bailey is tied for eighth place, occupied by teammate Macey Hughes and Mandy Stevens.
With nine home runs this season, Bailey leads the South Atlantic Conference. Her 31 RBI also lead the league. Bailey has driven in a run in 11 of the last 12 games for C-N. She has 22 runs batted in since Feb. 25.
Brooke Matyasovsky is second in the league in home runs. She sits on eight but has been on an absolute tear. Matyasovsky has homered six times in her last 16 at-bats. That amounts to a home run in every 2.67 trips to the plate. Those six home runs have all come in pairs in sequential plate appearances.
Carson-Newman ranks 17th nationally and second in the SAC with 27 home runs this season. The Eagles have hit at least one bomb in seven straight games and nine of their last 10.
First pitch between the Eagles and Saints is slated for 1 p.m. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FLoSB. Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live updates of the games.
