C-N Sweeps Doubleheader and Series with No. 19 Tusculum
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (7-4, 3-0 South Atlantic Conference) swept a Sunday doubleheader and the weekend series over the no. 19 Tusculum Pioneers (5-5, 0-3 South Atlantic Conference) winning 10-2 and 2-1 on a sunny and chilly Sunday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | X | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 5 | 1 |
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (7-4, 3-0 South Atlantic Conference) swept a Sunday doubleheader and the weekend series over the no. 19 Tusculum Pioneers (5-5, 0-3 South Atlantic Conference) winning 10-2 and 2-1 on a sunny and chilly Sunday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
The Eagles have now won their last four games, with all wins coming against ranked opponents, and the series victory over the rival Pioneers is the first since 2010, and the first sweep in recent history.
"Getting a series win against Tusculum is what you hope for, but no question this is big," said Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin. "I can't remember the last time we swept Tusculum, so it's big for our program and these kids and their mental makeup and believing in the process to keep grinding it out, so it was great."
Game One: Carson-Newman defeats no. 19 Tusculum 10-2
The Eagles took the first contest of the doubleheader 10-2 with senior right-hander Alex Britt (1-1) earning a complete game victory. He worked all seven innings allowing only two runs on three hits with a pair of walks and a season-high 11 strikeouts. Tusculum starter Zeke McGranahan (1-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in his six and a third innings on the mound.
Tusculum took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with an RBI groundout for Heath Comferford that scored Tripper Crisson from third. After getting Comerford out, Britt retired the next 10 batters, striking out six of them. The Eagles answered quickly in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Zach Long before Cody Fox hit a two-run homer to put Carson-Newman ahead 3-1. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Bryan Everhart added two more runs in the fourth to put Carson-Newman's lead at 5-1.
The Eagles maintained their four-run lead before a five-run rally in the last of the sixth to lead 10-1 as the Carson-Newman scored five runs on three hits, while Tusculum committed five errors. The Pioneers committed six errors in the first game of the twin bill, the second straight game against the Eagles where Tusculum had six miscues.
The Pioneers would get a run back in the ninth, but Britt finished his gem in sparkling fashion by striking out Crisson to end the game. Long was the most prolific hitter in game one, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Fox also collected two-RBI thanks to his homer in the first.
Game Two: Carson-Newman defeats no. 19 Tusculum 2-1
Tusculum would load the bases in the top of the ninth with feared hitter Cade Stallings at the plate, but Dustin Dunagan struck him out swinging to end the series in a Carson-Newman sweep, winning the finale 2-1.
Sophomore right-hander Quinton Yocum (2-1) earned the win after working the first six and a third innings allowing only one unearned run on five hits while striking out eight batters and walking only two. Tusculum starter Adam Sigmon (1-2) took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits with three walks in his five innings on the mound.
The game was scoreless until the top of the third when Tusculum began the frame with a Jalen Shuffler triple to centerfield. He scored when Carson-Nemwan third baseman Brandon Roberts misplayed a groundball hit by Matt Stevens to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead thanks to the error. The Eagles answered back in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by Peter Rajkovich to tie the game at one.
Carson-Newman took the lead an inning later in the bottom of the fourth. Philip Duncan delivered an RBI single that brought home Kevin Franchetti to give Carson-Newman a 2-1 lead, which would be the final score.
The Pioneers mounted a threat in the top of the seventh, when Dunagan took over on the mound. He walked Comerford to load the bases before striking out Stallings to end the game in a Carson-Newman victory as Dunagan earned his first save of the season.
The Eagles committed four errors in the nightcap, while Tusculum committed two to give the Pioneers 14 errors during the three-game series.
Carson-Newman will finish its five-game homestand by welcoming King College to the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex on Tuesday Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. Coverage of all games of the game is available on www.cneagles.com with live stats and broadcasts on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network.
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