ANDERSON, S.C. – Carson-Newman (31-16) was down to its final strike in the bottom of the seventh inning and trailing by two runs when Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.).
Facing a 3-2 count, Warder poked a pinch-hit two-run home run to right to force extra innings before Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) walked it off with a single through the left side in the bottom of the eight.
The third-seeded Eagles prevailed over sixth-seeded Newberry (25-24) 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the South Atlantic Conference Softball Championships at the Anderson Softball Complex Friday afternoon.
C-N advances in the winner's bracket to face second-seeded and host Anderson at noon Saturday for the right to advance to the site's championship Sunday at 1:30. Newberry falls into the loser's bracket and faces elimination Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Lincoln Memorial.
"We took some good swings in the first inning and then kind of got in a lull for a little bit," head softball coach Michael Graves said. "I think Newberry had a few innings where they had better at bats than us but we hung in there. (Starting pitcher) Emma (Frost) didn't have her best stuff today, but it was still good enough to keep us in the ball game and give us a chance. I am really proud of them hanging in there and overcoming not having our best stuff on offense or defense. I really hope this gives us a lot of momentum going into tomorrow."
BYE
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 26, 2024
Leadoff jack for @MaceyHughes5 - the 28th of her career
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Carson-Newman jumped out to the early lead with its first trip to the plate. Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) slugged her 28th career home run to left center to lead off the game and give C-N a 1-0 lead.
The Wolves countered in the top of the second. Kristin Griffin bounced a one-out triple off the wall in right center and scored a batter later on a sacrifice fly when Bethany Pigg popped out in foul ground along the right field line to level the score at a run a piece.
Newberry took the lead in the top of the sixth. Mady Brown got plunked on her hands with one out. After a strikeout, Vanessa Wilson scorched a line drive over the wall in center to give the Wolves a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles countered at the last possible moment to force extras. Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) roped a one-out single to right before moving to third on a wild pitch. After a ground out, the table was set for a pinch-hit at-bat for Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg,Ky.). Facing a 3-2 count with two away, Warder poked a ball into the jet stream to right, clearing the fence with a game-tying opposite field home run. C-N got a two-out walk to Hughes, but a groundout ended the rally and sent the game to extras.
OOHHHHHH MYYYYY!!
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 26, 2024
Two strike. Two out. Game-tying. Pinch-hit visit to the #DingerDistrict
Attaway @kennyw33
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"Kennady coming in to pinch hit had a great at bat and gave us the momentum back," Graves said. "I think that was the turning point in the game because we were in bad shape at that moment."
Emma Frost (Morristown, Tenn.) retired the Wolves in order in the eighth to set the table for the Eagles' offense.
A ground out started the inning before Brooke Matyasovsky (Orange, Conn.) whipped a sinking single to right. She moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Lucero came through with her heroic at-bat, slashing a single through the left side. Graves waved Matyasovsky around third as the throw came into the cut off at short.
Matyasovsky wheeled home, sliding to the right side of home plate and around a late tag from the Wolves' catcher to secure the win.
"The Brooke and Brooklyn show got us the win in the eighth inning," Graves said. "Brooke Didn't have very good at bats in the game, but she told me in the eighth inning that she was working on it, and she was going to make an adjustment and she would come through for us. She did, unquestionably."
WALK. IT. OFF. @BrooklynLucero singles and @brookematy wheels home with hyper-aggressive baserunning
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 26, 2024
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Frost notched the complete game win for C-N to improve to 17-3. She gave up five hits and three runs, all earned, while striking out five. She didn't issue a walk but did hit a batter.
Lindsey Foster took the loss in relief for the Wolves to drop to 6-5. She pitched the eight inning, giving up two hits and the winning run. It spoiled a quality start for Lex Glemaker, who pitched 7.0 innings, giving up seven hits and three runs in a no-decision.
Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) and Matyasovsky both had multi-hit days. Warder's pinch-hit home run was the first for the Eagles since Mari Robbins had a game-tying, pinch-hit, inside-the-park home run last year on Feb. 8 against Emmanuel.
Carson-Newman has hit 57 home runs as a team this season – the most in school history.
The Eagles are 11-2 in the month of April and winners of eight straight.
Cassidy Phelps paced Newberry's offense with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
The Wolves didn't have an official at-bat with a runner in scoring position.
First pitch Saturday between the Eagles and Trojans is slated for noon. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloSB. Follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter for live updates of the contest.
