VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview

GREENWOOD, S.C.— Carson-Newman (6-5) was plagued by slow starts in two losses at the Lander Bearcat Invitational, falling to USC Aiken (8-6) and Lander (7-2) on Friday afternoon.

"Our hitting has got to be better," Graves said. "Things are not going to change until that gets better. Late in game two, we made a lot of subs and those players got on base."

GAME ONE: USC Aiken 7, C-N 5

In game one of the day, Aiken started the day hot, scoring two in the 1^st on a Mallory Shaver RBI single. The Pacers added to the lead in the 3^rd, scoring one on a bases-loaded walk, but Riley Sikes (Powell, Tenn.) entered in relief and stranded the bases-loaded on one pitch to keep it a three-run deficit.

C-N had an answer. Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) started the 4^th with a single before SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) legged out an infield single to put runners at first and third for the Eagles. Hayden Dye (Knoxville, Tenn.) roped a single down the left field line, scoring Martin and cutting the deficit to two. Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) slashed the deficit in half with an RBI groundout to bring C-N within one.

With two outs in the 4^th, Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) knotted the ballgame at three on her third home run of the season, a solo shot to centerfield. The Sweetwater native now has a career-high three home runs just ten games into the 2025 season.

The Pacers responded in the bottom of the 4^th, retaking the lead on an Autumn Fisher RBI single before a Kate Newberry RBI groundout to give them their second two-run advantage of the day.

Both teams went scoreless in the 5^th, as C-N had runners on second and third when Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) sent a ball that looked like trouble to shallow center. However, Aiken's Peri Rouillard made a highlight reel grab to wipe away what would've been the game-tying knock.

Riley Sikes delivered just what the doctor ordered, tossing a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom half of the 5^th to keep it a two-run game.

Down two in the 6^th, Wynter Morris (Crozet, Va.) punched a single through the left side to lead off the frame. Mari Robbins worked a one-out walk, and after pinch-runner Katey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va.) and Robbins advanced on a wild pitch, Abbi Martin cashed one in on an RBI groundout. With two outs in the 6^th, SieAnna Cameron delivered the biggest hit of the game for C-N, tying it up at six with an RBI double.

Aiken delivered in the bottom half with two outs, as Mallory Shaver sent one over the centerfield wall to give Aiken the two-run advantage.

It was the knockout blow, as C-N, despite bringing the tying run to the plate, went down scoreless in the top of the 7^th.

Lorelei Spradlin (Blacksburg, Va.) tossed the first 1.2 innings before Riley Sikes entered, allowing five hits and three earned runs, but did a solid job keeping the game in reach for C-N.

Despite the loss, Riley Sikes notched her second-longest outing of the season, throwing 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs while striking out one Pacer.

For USC Aiken, senior Lakyn Phillips threw a whopping 148 pitches in a complete-game performance, allowing eight hits and five earned runs while striking out eight.

GAME TWO: Lander 4, C-N 0

The Eagles found themselves behind early again in game two, as Emily Allen launched a two-out two-run home run to right field in the 1^st, giving Lander the advantage after one.

Lander's Kamryn Akins set down the Eagles 1-2-3 in back-to-back innings to start the game before C-N got a baserunner in the 3^rd on a Trinity Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) leadoff single. Brooks got to 3^rd on a Kennady Warder sacrifice bunt and a passed ball but was stranded at third base as the Eagles remained scoreless.

Back-to-back walks to start the home half of the 3^rd put a runner in scoring position for the Bearcats, and a bunt single deposited in no man's land off the bat of Reagan Hill scored Kaitlyn DeFranco, and a passed ball scored one more to give Lander a 4-0 lead after three.

Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) was stellar the rest of the way, dealing three scoreless innings to keep C-N within four heading to the top of the 7^th.

After a leadoff single from Hayden Dye, freshman Addie Saunders (Radford, Va.) reached on an error before Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) did the same to load the bases for C-N with no one out. However, Katey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va) hit a ball up the middle, resulting in a double play, and Syerra Rogers popped up to second base to end the game.

Despite dealing six free passes, Syerra Rogers settled in, tossing six innings of two-hit ball, striking out five and keeping the game well within reach for the Eagle offense.

Lander's Kamryn Akins delivered a stellar effort, earning her third win in a complete-game performance, allowing two hits and striking out seven.

The Eagles' contests with Young Harris and Georgia College, originally scheduled for Saturday, have been cancelled.

C-N will return on Tuesday, welcoming North Greenville to The Vick at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader.

Both games will be available on FloSports ($) with an audio-only stream at cneagles.com/live.

For updates throughout the 2025 Carson-Newman softball season, visit cneagles.com and follow us on social media @cn_eagles.