Eagles stumble in Saturday twin bill at AU
ANDERSON, S.C. – Carson-Newman (8-8, 1-7 SAC) was swept in a doubleheader by Anderson (13-4, 4-4 SAC) on Saturday afternoon at Anderson’s Memorial Stadium.
ANDERSON, S.C. – Carson-Newman (8-8, 1-7 SAC) was swept in a doubleheader by Anderson (13-4, 4-4 SAC) on Saturday afternoon at Anderson's Memorial Stadium.
"Anderson played very well," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said. "Defensively they were really solid. They were better defensively in how they executed than the way we did. I really loved our guys' fight. We talked this week about no matter the score, we want to make sure we play to our identity and our attitude and effort is good. Controlling the things we can control and our guys did that. Despite some Anderson gut punches, the guys were still doing what we asked them to do. That's all we can ask for."
The losses extend C-N's losing streak to six games, the program's longest since 2022.
Game One: Anderson 6, Carson-Newman 1
Anderson took advantage of some freebies to jump out to a three-run lead. Runs scored off a hit, an error and a sac fly. The Trojans scored three runs thanks to three walks and a hit by pitch in the frame.
Offensively, the Eagles managed just one hit through the first three innings. Ryan Higgins (Spotsylvania, Va.) would settle in tossing scoreless second, third and fourth innings to keep C-N in striking distance.
C-N would get a run back in the fifth. Ryan Bolton (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled through the right side to plate Johno Pierce (Brentwood, Tenn.).
The Trojans got that run back in the bottom of the frame, as Braeden Harrison launched a home run over the left field wall to make it 4-1.
Carson-Newman recorded hits in the sixth and seventh innings but was unable to trim into the score.
The game's final runs came on one swing in the bottom of the seventh. Levi Medford ripped a two-run double to left with two outs to make it 6-1.
The Eagles had chances in the ninth. Maddox Greene (Deep Gap, N.C.) singled and Logan Floyd (Adairsville, Ga.) and Cole Nathan (Knoxville, Tenn.) drew one-out walks to load the bases. A pop out and strikeout ended C-N's ninth inning threat.
Higgins suffered his third loss, despite a quality start with five strikeouts.
AU starter Kaleb Owens fired eight innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. Luke Godwin came in with the bases loaded to save the game.
Greene's two hit day led C-N's offense.
Game Two: Anderson 7, Carson-Newman 3
The second game's first run went to Carson-Newman. After a leadoff double, Braxton Smith (Cleveland, Tenn.) would score off a Bradley Soto Diaz (Davenport, Fla.) two-out single to make it 1-0.
Anderson's offense wasted no time to answer. Adams Faucett led off with a triple and scored off a Dom Bello single to tie the game. The Trojans took the lead on a Brooks Mauro two-out infield single.
The two sides combined for just one hit in scoreless second and third innings.
Carson-Newman jumped back in front in the fourth. An error, single and walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Aiden Gibson (Cleveland, Tenn.) singled to right to drive in a run, but a second runner was thrown out at the plate to keep it 2-2.
C-N took the lead in the fourth on a wild pitch, scoring just twice with the bases loaded and nobody out.
The Trojans took full control of the game in the fifth inning. A throwing error was followed by a sac bunt to put a runner at third with one out. AU played small ball, tying the game on a sac bunt from Bello for the second out of the frame. Medford followed with a RBI single to give AU the lead at 4-3.
Mauro added more runs, launching a three-run shot to left to make it 7-3 after five. All five fifth innings runs were unearned against Kolton Casson (Benton, Tenn.).
Casson suffered his second loss of the season allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Carson-Newman put some game pressure on AU in the ninth. With two outs, C-N loaded the bases on a walk, single and an error to bring the tying run to the plate. Floyd hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Failing to reach base in game two, Floyd saw his 49-game on-base streak come to an end. It goes down as one of the longest known on-base streaks in program history.
Anderson starter Cole Davis recorded all but one out, to win his second game of the year.
The series against the Trojans concludes tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live. A live camera of the broadcast crew "In the Booth" will also be available on YouTube.
