March 5, 2011

Hollifield reaches career win No. 900 with pair of C-N wins at Mid-South Classic

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carson-Newman softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield reached another milestone on Saturday afternoon by recording her 900th career victory with the Lady Eagles’ sweep of Glenville State and Francis Marion on Saturday morning in the Mid-South Classic. C-N cruised to a 12-2 victory over Glenville State to open the day and gave Hollifield her milestone win with a 6-3 decsion over Francis Marion.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carson-Newman softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield reached another milestone on Saturday afternoon by recording her 900th career victory with the Lady Eagles' sweep of Glenville State and Francis Marion on Saturday morning in the Mid-South Classic.

C-N cruised to a 12-2 victory over Glenville State to open the day and gave Hollifield her milestone win with a 6-2 decision over Francis Marion. The Lady Eagles return to South Atlantic Conference play at Mars Hill College on Tuesday. First pitch is at 2 p.m.

With the sweep, the Lady Eagles improve to 14-7-1 on the season and have won seven out of their last eight contests.

Hollifield, who is a 10-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year and has guided C-N to 11 national tournament appearances, now has a career record of 900-278-1. Just two seasons ago, Hollifield guided the Lady Eagles to one of the most successful seasons in program history. C-N won both the SAC and NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament to advance to its first-ever trip to the Super Regionals.

Hollifield joins a short and elite list as she reaches 900 wins for her career. She is only the eighth coach in D-II history to reach the 900-win plateau. She is also seventh in all-time winning percentage (.791) among Division II coaches.

Carson-Newman 6, Francis Marion 2

Catcher Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) hit a solo home run in the first inning and starter Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) scattered five hits as the Lady Eagles gave Hollifield her milestone win.

Shoemake ripped a first-inning offering from FMU starter Cea Knox over the left field fence to give C-N a 1-0 lead and the Lady Eagles would never trail.

Shoemake would add a sacrifice fly and Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) would single home Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) to extend the lead to 3-0 in the third.

Shealy, who didn't allow an extra-base hit in the game, would put things out of reach in the sixth. The junior drilled her third home run of the season out to left to reach the games' final score.

Shoemake, Dariayn Wright (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), and Sara Kelley (Birchwood, Tenn.) each had two hits for C-N.

Shealy walked six and struck out four to improve to 11-5.

Carson-Newman 12, Glenville State 3

Carson-Newman scored in all four at-bats and Mary Shealy allowed just one hit in three innings of work as C-N run-ruled Glenville State on Saturday morning, 12-3.

Whitney Kee went 3-for-3, including a two-run home run in the first, as C-N jumped out early. She also scored three times.

Carson-Newman would put the game away with a six-run fourth.

Wright led the onslaught with a lead-off triple. Hewitt, Whaley, and Shealy each had RBI singles in the inning.

Wright helped the Lady Eagles with a 2-for-3 day and a run scored.

Shealy also went 2-for-3 including a two-run triple in the fourth.

Friday's Games

Carson-Newman 8, Belmon Abbey 0 (6 innings)

Carson-Newman sprinted to a 7-0 lead through three innings and finished off the Crusaders in six innings in an 8-0 win.

Shealy allowed just one hit in four innings of work. Freshman Jessie Forrester (Flintstone, Ga.) threw two shutout innings in relief.

Shoemake hit the first of three home runs on the tournament in the bottom of the first as C-N jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) added an RBI single in the second, while Amber Hewitt (Ringgold, Ga.) squeezed home Price to move the lead to 5-0 after two.

Wright provided the scoring in the third with a two-run single to center as the Lady Eagles put the game out of reach early behind Shealy, who struck out four and walked only two.

Armstrong Atlantic State 9, C-N 2

AASU pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of five C-N errors in a 9-2 win.

Shoemake hit her sixth home run of the season to provide both of the Lady Eagles' runs in the game.

Shoemake and Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) each had two hits for C-N.

-C-N-

At Spartanburg, S.C.

2011 Mid-South Tournament

(Story and box scores have just been received and will follow shortly)

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Carson-Newman 12, Glenville State (W.Va.) 2

Carson-Newman 6, Francis Marion 3

Friday, March 4, 2011