Crawford’s bolt helps C-N into winner’s bracket, Eagles down No. 20 Bobcats 2-1
HICKORY, N.C. – Sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (33-19) got a pivotal, late-inning, pinch-hit knock and rode quality pitching to weather third-seeded and 20th-ranked Georgia College (36-15) plus a lengthy rain delay for a 2-1 win Thursday evening in the Southeast Regional at Bears Field.
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VIDEO: Postgame Press Conference
VIDEO: Highlights
HICKORY, N.C. – Sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (33-19) got a pivotal, late-inning, pinch-hit knock and rode quality pitching to weather third-seeded and 20th-ranked Georgia College (36-15) plus a lengthy rain delay for a 2-1 win Thursday evening in the Southeast Regional at Bears Field.
Carson-Newman and Georgia College both had to contend with a 5:15 minute rain and lightning delay. The teams got in the top of the first inning before a firm blanket of showers and thunderstorms blanketed Hickory. The teams resumed play at 7:30 before wrapping up at 9:35.
Morgan Crawford (Chickamagua, Ga.) tallied a pinch-hit, RBI single to tie a pitcher's duel in the sixth before the Eagles grabbed the lead on an error and tallied a 2-1 win as a result.
Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) went the distance in the circle. The South Atlantic Conference's Player of the Year upped her record to 23-12. She worked around six hits, striking out three and walking two.
Win your first NCAA game as a head coach, get the game ball.
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) May 11, 2018
Well done to @cnsball's Michael Graves pic.twitter.com/bK6Q3OdLOS
It took until the third inning, but Georgia College lit the lamp first. An infield single from Sutton Long to short on a chopper over the circle got the inning starter. A sacrifice moved her to second before a walk and a swinging bunt loaded the bases.
With one out, Haley Howell blooped a base hit into right. Long had to hold at third, but sprinted home when the ball dropped in fair ground for the go-ahead run.
Carson-Newman's defense picked up after that. Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) went home on a ground ball to second to prevent a run from coming in before the Eagles ended the inning getting a foul out to right. The Bobcats left the sacks juiced.
The Eagles were able to take advantage of some timely base hits and a Bobcat miscue to grab the lead.
Ashlyn Cooper (Friendsville, Tenn.) led off the frame with a base hit into right center. Taylor Scott (Huntington, W.Va.) then dropped down a perfectly placed bunt back to the circle for a base hit. A Toppel sacrifice pushed the pair into scoring position before Morgan Crawford (Chickamauga, Ga.) came up for a pinch-hit at-bat.
Crawford belted one back up the box to score the lead runner from third and level the score 1-1.
Abby Fiessinger kept the merry-go-round rolling with a ground ball to third. A throw to first was off target, allowing Fiessinge to reach and for Scott to sprint home to give C-N a 2-1 lead.
How can @cnsball lose when @cneagles President @RandallOBrien1's rally cap game is this firm? pic.twitter.com/wjJyfh0PYe
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) May 11, 2018
Carson-Newman had an opportunity to keep things rolling, but the Eagles popped into a double play to end the threat.
The Eagles retired the Bobcats in order in the sixth before Toppel turned a 4-3 double play on a line drive in the seventh to help preserve the 2-1 margin.
Jessie Morris got the start and a no decision after she got hit by a line drive up the middle and had to exit the game. Kayla Price took the loss in relief to fall to 8-3. She allowed nine hits, struck out one and didn't walk a batter. Only one of the Eagles runs scored off her was earned.
Rinus and Scott led Carson-Newman's offense. Rinus was 3-for-4 while Scott went 2-for-3. Crawford drove in the lone run of the day for the Eagles.
Carson-Newman left nine runners stranded, the Bobcats left six aboard. The Eagles were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
The Eagles advance in the winner's bracket to face Young Harris. The seven seed scored an upset over Lenoir-Rhyne 9-4. The teams square off at 1 p.m.
That's 1️⃣ . Behind a complete game and three hits from @lacieloo22, the Eagles open the NCAA Softball Championships with a victory.
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) May 11, 2018
��@cnsball 2
��@GCBobcats 1
FINAL pic.twitter.com/T3Dn1eOS9t
