Newberry tops Eagles in extra innings in SAC opener, 3-2

NEWBERRY, S.C. — Newberry's Hunter Cox (Andrews, S.C.) drove in Chris Love (Columbia, S.C.) on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Wolves to a 3-2 victory over the Carson-Newman Eagles on Friday night in the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams.

With the loss, the Eagles fall to 3-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference. Newberry improves to 5-5 on the season and 1-0 in SAC play.

The Eagles collected eight hits on the night, including a 3-for-5 effort from third baseman Wesley Dozier (Cornelius, N.C.).

Newberry tallied five hits. Cox finished with one hit and two RBIs to lead the way, while Kevin Rufus (Andrews, S.C.) added a triple and Terrence Gray (Newberry, S.C.) had a double.

Wolves' reliever Tyler Sturkie (West Columbia, S.C.) (1-0) earned the win after working three scoreless innings. Sturkie allowed two hits and had three strikeouts.

C-N's Ryan Fillers (Greeneville, Tenn.) was tagged with the loss despite not allowing a hit. Fillers (0-2) surrendered one run, walked three and struck out four in 3 1/3 innings on the mound.

The Eagles took the lead in the top of the second. After Troy Zawadzki (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drew a walk and stole second, Aaron Vargas lined a single to right field, driving in Zawadzki to give C-N a 1-0 lead.

Newberry knotted the game at 1-1 in the fifth, as Rufus smashed a triple to left center to get things started and later scored on a Cox groundout.

The Wolves grabbed the lead in the sixth. After Gray led things off with a double down the left-field line, Love delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Gray to give Newberry a 2-1 lead.

C-N bounced back to tie the contest in the eighth, as Kyle Koeneman (Seymour, Tenn.) drove in Lance Rorex (Chattanooga, Tenn.) with a single to left field, but Cox drove in Love for the winning run in the 11th for Newberry.

The Eagles and Wolves will close out the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.