Eagles Look to Build on Early Success with Midweek Matchup Against Lee
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to build off a hot start, Carson-Newman (3-0) welcomes Lee (2-1) for an in-state clash for the first time since 2022 at The Vick on Wednesday afternoon.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to build off a hot start, Carson-Newman (3-0) welcomes Lee (2-1) for an in-state clash for the first time since 2022 at The Vick on Wednesday afternoon.
With a scoring output in the first weekend that ranks near the top of the South Atlantic Conference, head coach Michael Graves was impressed with his team's ability to work productive at-bats.
Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) had a two-home run, 8-RBI weekend, which led to a SAC player of the week selection, and Wynter Morris (Crozet, Va.) added a grand slam for the second home run of her career.
Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.), Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.), Hayden Dye (Knoxville, Tenn.), Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.), and SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) all had multi-RBI weekends. Still, the approach at the plate impressed Graves the most.
"I loved our approach at the plate," Graves said. "We didn't stand up there and take a bunch of strikes and strikeout a lot… We took a walk when a pitcher gave it to us, and that's something we've been stressing. Take what she gives you, and if she walks you, then let the person behind you step up and do their job."
In the circle, C-N held its opponents to just six runs with stellar pitching from a handful of Eagles. Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) got the ball in game one against Kentucky State, striking out eight in three innings of work. Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) held serve in the next two innings, allowing just one hit in C-N's 8-0 run-rule victory to open the season.
Riley Sikes (Powell, Tenn.) pitched a stellar 4.2 innings on Sunday in game one against Concord, striking out six and keeping the early deficit right where it was to let the offense mount an emphatic comeback in the 18-5 win. Freshman Lorelei Spradlin (Blacksburg, Va.) impressed in her debut in game two, tossing four innings of one-hit ball. North Alabama transfer Mariyn Waterman closed out the weekend with two scoreless frames.
"I liked our depth," Graves said. "It's a lot stronger than it has been in years… We've got the availability, and if someone is not on this game, we can switch out. We have multiple options, and that helps a lot."
C-N welcomes a Lee team that started the season with a series win over Emmanuel (Ga.). Over the three games, Lee outscored Emmanuel, 20-10.
Offensively, the Flames are led by Hailey Simco and Rylie Goodridge, who both hit over .500 in the opening weekend. In terms of run production, Lee's offense was fairly spread out, with no Flame batter tallying more than four RBIs, but six have multi-RBI totals after the opening weekend.
In the circle, two Lee arms ate up the lion's share of the innings in the opening weekend. Natalie Pruitt Geesey tossed 11 innings, finishing the weekend with a 2-0 record and a 1.91 ERA. Madison Barnett struck out seven through her seven innings of work but was handed the loss in Emmanuel's lone win of the three-game set.
C-N and Lee square off for the first time since 2022 when the Flames and Eagles split a doubleheader in April. Hayden Dye and Kennady Warder had RBI knocks in C-N's game one win. In game two, Lee blanked C-N in an 8-0 win in Jefferson City.
The all-time series dates back to March of 1991, when C-N defeated Lee 13-1 in Cleveland. C-N owns the all-time record, 6-4, as the two programs prepare for the 11th and 12th all-time meeting with the doubleheader starting at noon.
Both games will be available on FloSports ($) with an audio stream at cneagles.com/live.
