Eagles erupt for 13 unanswered in run-rule rout of TU
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (24-17) scored 13 unanswered runs to run away with a 14-2 run-rule win over Tusculum (15-27) on Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
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1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | X | 14 | 15 | 0 |
VIDEO: Tanner Kilgore Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (24-17) scored 13 unanswered runs to run away with a 14-2 run-rule win over Tusculum (15-27) on Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
The win secures a fourth win in five games against the Pioneers this season.
"We were fortunate to come out on the good side of this," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said. "We got to use a lot of people which was good. I'll start with Kevin Hammond, he did a really good job behind the dish. Got to use some pitchers, we extended James Salicco more than normal, really super happy for him. Roberts and Bobo were both effective with Bobo finishing that inning. Tanner Kilgore is starting to swing it well, he's been hitting it hard and having good at bats. Solid defense and overall a good midweek win."
The Eagles piled up 15 hits to score 14 runs. It's the 14th time this season that C-N has produced a double-digit scoring day. Nine different guys recorded a hit and eight had at least one RBI.
Leading that offensive charge was Tanner Kilgore (Kingsport, Tenn.) He finished three for three at the plate with two RBI and reached base all four times he went to the plate. In two starts against Tusculum this season, Kilgore is now seven for eight at the plate against with seven RBI.
"This past weekend I hit some balls hard and was just unlucky," Kilgore said. "Today, I was able to find some holes and it felt good to get another win over Tusculum. That is always a good day."
Tusculum started the scoring in the opening inning. It's third hit of the frame was a two-strike two-out single from Kolby Watson to make it 1-0.
Carson-Newman quickly matched that, recording three consecutive hits to tie the game. Bradley Soto Diaz (Davenport, Fla.) tied the game with a single to right, his 30th RBI of the year.
The Pioneers went back in front on the first batter of the second. Evan Cage launched his third home run of the year over the right field wall to make it 2-1.
The rest of the game belonged to Carson-Newman. After stealing two bases on one wild pitch, Johno Pierce (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored on a groundout to level the score after two innings.
That began a stretch where C-N would go on to score the final 13 runs of the game.
The Eagles put TU well behind the eight ball with a six-run third inning. The first four batters of the third recorded a hit, with Tanner Kilgore's (Kingsport, Tenn.) driving in two to give C-N the lead. Pierce later added to the lead with a RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The next three runs scored with two outs. A double steal pushed the lead to 6-2, as Cole Nathan (Knoxville, Tenn.) stole home for the second time this season.
Two-out base hits from Kevin Hammond and Aiden Gibson scored a run each to cap the six-run third.
Tusculum's inability to throw strikes helped add to Carson-Newman's lead in the fourth. Two different pitchers combined to throw 13 straight balls to open the inning, allowing C-N to load the bases. Pierce came up with a clutch knock, poking a two-run double down the right field line to make it 10-2. Two batters later, Colton Evans ballooned the lead to nine with a bloop single to right. Gibson closed the four-run fourth with a sac fly and the Eagles led by 10 after four innings.
Carson-Newman scored in each half innings by adding a run in the fifth and sixth frames. After Kilgore doubled to open the innings, Trace Alexander delivered a pinch-hit single through the right side for his second career RBI to extend the lead to 13-2.
Sophomore outfielder Ian Hubbard (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) capped the scoring, launching his first career home run over the center field wall to make it 14-2 Eagles.
THE PRESIDENT �� @Ian_hubb3 GOES YARD FOR HIS FIRST CAREER HOME RUN ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 14, 2026
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During the scoring onslaught, Carson-Newman's bullpen was terrific. James Salicco (Waxhaw, N.C.) set the tone, tossing two scoreless innings to earn his first career win. He pitched with a runner on base in each inning.
Braxton Roberts (Sweetwater, Tenn.) and Aaron Bobo (Knoxville, Tenn.) combined to pitch a scoreless fifth. Roberts recorded the first two outs with Bobo using three pitches to get the final fifth inning out.
A similar scenario played out for Harrison Shelton (Clinton, Tenn.) and Will Sharp (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the sixth. Shelton struck out a pair of left handed hitters but also allowed two to reach. Sharp escaped the jam, getting a first-pitch pop-up for his first career out.
The first career pitch from Will Sharp is an out ‼️
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 14, 2026
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Eli Norris (Ringgold, Ga.) closed out C-N's best bullpen day of the year. He allowed three straight one-out batters to reach, but got Evan Cage to ground into a game-ending double play.
Those six Eagles combined for five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and walking two with two strikeouts.
Tusculum's Ben Randall suffered his first loss of the year. He allowed four and five runs to the six batters he faced and recorded just one out. All seven Pioneer pitchers allowed at least one run.
Carson-Newman plays its final home South Atlantic Conference series of the season. First pitch for Friday's series opener is scheduled for 2:00 pm. A video stream of the weekend series is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/flobase. 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.
