C-N prepped for top-10 clash with Georgia College
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (18-8, 4-0 South Atlantic Conference) faces its stiffest test yet of 2016 when it welcomes No. 8 Georgia College (25-9, 4-4 Peach Belt) to the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex for an NCAA tournament rematch Wednesday afternoon at 2.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
The Bobcats handed Carson-Newman 3-1 loss in last year's NCAA Southeast Region tournament. GC has won three-in-a-row against the Eagles. Yet, C-N still clings to the all-time series lead 14-13 in spite of the Bearcats winning seven of the last eight contests dating back to 2012.
Georgia College has the offensive stats to back up their top 10 ranking. The Bobcats are 12th in the country in scoring with 6.71 runs per game and 17th in doubles per game with 1.87.
Georgia College's Faith Flanders has powered out 47 runs batted in this season. That's the second most in Division II this year. She has 13 multi-RBI performances this year, including six with at least three RBI.
Meanwhile, Carson-Newman's offense has revved into gear thanks to some extended hitting streaks for the Eagles. Shon Jordan (10) and Lindsay Dean (7) are each riding career long hitting streaks while Elayna Siebert (8) is riding a season-long streak. On top of that, Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) has tallied a base hit in 21 of her last 22 games.
Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) is coming in off a four-RBI, three-hit day and Dean has hit three home runs in her last 10 at bats.
Dean (28), Siebert (24) and Katie Pritchett (24) all rank in the top five in the SAC in runs batted in. Dean leads the league in home runs (8) and Siebert in batting average (.459).
Georgia College is the last top-10 team the Eagles faced. C-N lost 3-1 to then No. 8 Bobcats last year in the Southeast Region tournament. C-N is 1-5 against top 10 teams since 2010. The Eagles lone win in that span came in 2011 with an 8-7 triumph over then 10th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne.
First pitch between the Eagles and Bearcats is slated for 2 p.m. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network with a free high definition stream at cneagles.com/live.
