Eagles fall in extra innings to Trevecca Nazarene
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In its second extra-inning game of the season, Carson-Newman (21-16) dropped a 5-4 decision in 11 innings to Trevecca Nazarene (27-12) on Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
| Final (11) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In its second extra-inning game of the season, Carson-Newman (21-16) dropped a 5-4 decision in 11 innings to Trevecca Nazarene (27-12) on Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
Carson-Newman's last eight losses this season are by three runs or less. 12 of the 16 this season are by three runs or less.
"We're so close right there in every single game," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said. "There's certain years where you just find ways to win like it's a magical year and then other years where it is more of a struggle. Right now, we are finding some wins and then finding some struggles with little things. To be in every game, that is what you ask for as a coach. This club has done that a lot this year against another good team. Now we need to figure out how to get over the top in a couple of these games."
Carson-Newman is now 10-3 in non-conference games this season.
Carson-Newman jumped out to an early lead. Maddox Greene's (Deep Gap, N.C.) first of three hits led off the first with a double to right field. Two batters later, Logan Floyd (Adairsville, Ga.) took Greene's spot at second, roping a RBI double toward left center to plate the game's first run.
One of Drew Fletcher's (Waxhaw, N.C.) gave Carson-Newman one of his best starts of the season. The only batter to reach against the freshman in the first five innings was by an error with two outs in the third inning.
The Eagles would extend their lead in the fourth and fifth innings. Bradley Soto Diaz (Davenport, Fla.) and Tanner Kilgore (Kingsport, Tenn.) both singled with one out in the fourth. Later in the frame with two outs, Kilgore got caught in a rundown but got to second because of a throwing error and Soto Diaz stole home to make it 2-0.
Three fifth inning singles helped C-N add to its lead. Kevin Hammond started with a one-out single, and Greene followed. Two batters later, Floyd scored Greene for the second time with a two-strike, two-out single up the middle to make it a 3-0 game.
Trevecca would strike for the first time in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases on just five pitches, two singles and a hit batter. The Trojans' only two runs in the sixth scored on a groundout and a wild pitch and it was 3-2 C-N after six.
The Eagles nearly added to their lead in the seventh. Greene tripled to center. Nathan and Floyd also reached with two outs by freebies, but the bases were left loaded.
TNU would tie the game with two outs in the eighth. A four-pitch two-out walk put the tying-run on base for Caleb Webster. On the next pitch, Webster laced a double to left center to tie the game.
A Kilgore single opened the bottom of the eighth, but C-N came up empty in two at bats with the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Trevecca's first lead came in the top of the ninth. Isaac Whittaker singled up the middle with two outs to make it a 5-4 game.
C-N's top RBI hitter produced yet again in the clutch. For the second time in the game, Floyd recorded a hit on a 3-2 pitch with two outs, except this one was with his team down to their final strike. He drove the pitch over toward the left field wall to score Nathan from first to tie the game at four after nine innings.
For both clubs, it was their second extra inning game of the season. Both sides were sent down in order in the 10th inning.
TNU threatened by getting the first two batters of the 11th on base. Back-to-back groundouts put two outs on the board for Whitaker, and TNU's second baseman delivered again. For the second time in three innings, he singled in a go-ahead run to put the Trojans up a run.
Nathan's first hit of the game put the tying run on base, but he was left on and TNU held on for the extra innings win.
Three hit days from Greene and Floyd were spoiled in the loss. Floyd drove in all three runs for C-N in the game. Greene matched his career in hits for the second time in the last three games and was a home run shy of the cycle.
Kilgore posted his second multi-hit game of the year going two for four.
Fletcher took the no-decision, firing 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball allowing just two hits. He struck out three.
Brock Culpepper (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) retired five of the six batters he faced out of the bullpen.
Kyle Adams (Gordonsville, Tenn.) and McCain Mangum (Ringgold, Ga.) also had scoreless outings in relief.
Aaron McCoy's two scoreless innings earned him the victory. He struck out two. He was one of six TNU relief pitchers to not allow a run.
Moses and Whittaker each had three-hit games for TNU.
Carson-Newman is back in action this weekend for a South Atlantic Conference series at Mars Hill. First pitch in Friday's series opener is scheduled for 2:00 pm. The game can be heard on cneagles.com/live. Fans can also watch the radio crew at work with a feed of press row on YouTube.
