JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After a stellar midweek performance against in-state rival Tusculum, Carson-Newman (20-10, 7-3 SAC) heads back on the road for the third time in four contests, traveling to Mars Hill (14-16, 4-6 SAC) for a Saturday twin bill.
The Eagles were successful in multiple facets in the doubleheader sweep over No. 17 Tusculum on Tuesday, handing the Pioneers their second and third losses of the season. C-N got to Tusculum's Megan Ackerman in game one, giving her a loss for the second time in 2025.
Additionally, C-N kept Tusculum's speed off the basepaths, limiting three of the top four base stealers in the SAC. Danielle Jason, Brooke Smith, and Ellie Alvarez combined to reach base just twice in the two games, making a significant part of Tusculum's success in 2025 a non-factor.
Offensively, C-N had copious amounts of firepower against Tusculum's pitching staff. The Eagles added to their Division II-leading home run tally, hitting three in each game. Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) homered once in each game, Santana Anderson (Fairmont, N.C.) launched a three-run shot in game one, and Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) ended the contest early with a run-rule walk-off bomb in the fifth.
The Eagles replicated their long ball success in game two, as Hayden Dye (Knoxville, Tenn.) opened the scoring with a two-run shot, Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) left the yard, and Bailey hit her second of the day, and the 40th of her career. With six homers on the day, C-N extended its lead in the home run tally now with 48 in 2025, five more than second-place West Texas A&M.
C-N looks to generate similar success on the road on Saturday, aiming to right the ship after going 1-3 away from home last week. C-N is 14-2 at home but has dropped six of nine road contests in 2025. The Eagles' lone win last week came in the opener at Anderson, but the three losses all came in run-rule fashion, with two losses at Wingate and a loss in the nightcap at Anderson.
The Eagles head back to the Tar Heel state to face a Mars Hill squad that has had an up-and-down start to 2025. The Mountain Lions dropped four in a row to Newberry and Emory & Henry, but since then, Mars Hill has won four of its last six contests. The stretch included a sweep over Coker and splits with Limestone and Converse.
The Mountain Lions have struggled offensively this season. As a team, they hit .243, which is second-to-last in the South Atlantic Conference. However, Mars Hill has worked its fair share of free passes, ranking fifth in the conference in walks (111). Maia Sholter leads the Mountain Lions in batting average (.293) and RBIs (22), and she is the only Mountain Lion with 20+ RBI. Bri Weimer has also produced for Mars Hill, hitting .277 with 10 RBI. While only one Mountain Lion has more than 20 RBI, seven have more than 10.
Mars Hill has only used three arms in the circle in 2025. Tea Cornett leads the Mountain Lion staff, holding a 3.36 ERA and a 9-7 record in 106.1 innings of work. Blyth Freeman has 80.2 innings under her belt in 2025 with a 6.25 ERA and a 5-9 record. Rebekah Howard has dealt the other six innings for Mars Hill.
The Eagles will look to right the ship on the road against the Mountain Lions on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
The games will be available on FloSports ($).
For updates throughout the 2025 Carson-Newman softball season, visit cneagles.com and follow us on social media @cn_eagles.
