No. 18 Carson-Newman finishes off swing of games away from home with in-state matchup against Lee
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 18 Carson-Newman (19-2) has grown accustomed to playing away from home this season, and they will finish off a stretch of nine-straight at Lee (6-16, 1-5) on Wednesday afternoon.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
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3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 1 |
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 18 Carson-Newman (19-2) has grown accustomed to playing away from home this season, and they will finish off a stretch of nine-straight at Lee (6-16, 1-5) on Wednesday afternoon.
On the season, the Eagles are 11-0 in neutral site competition and 4-2 on the road, and are coming off a 6-1 week, including an unblemished 5-0 mark at the Triangle Classic. While in Raleigh, C-N faced five teams from outside the Southeast Region: Davis & Elkins, Lincoln (Pa.), West Virginia Wesleyan, Bluefield State and Indiana (Pa.). That stretch will continue with its midweek date with the Flames from the South.
Late heroics have propelled C-N as of late, featuring two walk-off wins over the weekend against Lincoln (Pa.) and Indiana (Pa.). Anne Marie Richards' (Spring Hill, Tenn.) sacrifice bunt helped the Eagles overcome a three-run deficit against the Lions, 5-4. While Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) had the RBI single to drive in Malyiah Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the extra innings thriller against the Crimson Hawks, 3-2.
Offensively, Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) has been the engine and was named SAC and TSWA Player of the Week for her efforts this past week.
In these past seven days, Bailey went 14-for-25 for a .560 average at the plate, while racking up 10 RBIs and six extra base hits in a 6-1 week for Carson-Newman. In the first game of the Triangle Classic, Bailey went 3-for-4 with five RBIs on two doubles and a walk in an 11-4 win over Davis & Elkins. In a 10-run top of the seventh, Bailey tied the game on a two-run double down the left field line in a 13-pitch at-bat.
Bailey leads the SAC with 30 RBIs, is second in batting average, .485, tied for third in extra base hits, 11, and fourth in on-base percentage, .557. She is also tied for a team-high with two home runs.
The senior has reached base in every game this season and pushed her career-best on-base streak to 41 consecutive games dating back to March 18th of last season.
In the circle, freshman Atiana Stamper (Knoxville, Tenn.) continues to dazzle as she paces the team with a 1.48 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and a 6-0 record. Opponents are batting just .163 against the right-hander. Over the weekend, she had a complete game against Indiana (Pa.), recording 12 strikeouts.
She became the first Eagle since Lacie Rinus notched 12 against Coker on March 4th in 2021. It's the most strikeouts for a C-N pitcher since Emma Frost had 10 against UNC Pembroke on March 2nd, 2024.
In the fourth edition of the NFCA/GoRout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, Carson-Newman (19-2) climbed to No. 18. This is the highest ranking for the Eagles since March 14th, 2022, when the team peaked at No. 18.
Last week, Carson-Newman came in at No. 21. This is the first time since March 20th, 2023, that C-N found itself ranked inside the Top 25.
The Eagles are the only team from the South Atlantic Conference included in the poll this week and are one of three teams from the region, along with No. 4 North Georgia (Peach Belt) and No. 6 Francis Marion (Conference Carolinas).
The hosts, Lee, from the Gulf South Conference, enter Wednesday's meeting 6-16 on the season and 1-5 to start conference play. Over the weekend, the Flames dropped the first two against No. 4 Auburn Montgomery, before picking up a 4-3 win in nine innings in the series finale. Nat Toups delivered the walk-off walk after a nine-pitch at-bat.
This season, Lee is 2-3 against teams from the South Atlantic Conference, picking up a win over UVA Wise, splitting a doubleheader with Newberry, and dropping a pair to Lincoln Memorial. It also shares a common opponent with C-N, Shorter, losing both games to open the season against the Hawks.
As a team, the Flames are batting .274, and leading the charge is freshman Sadie Winsett and junior Alyson Jarvi. Winsett holds a team-high .359 average, with five home runs and is tied with Jarvi for the team-best 18 RBI. Meanwhile, Jarvi is batting .339 and leads the team with eight home runs. Eva Armstrong, .333, Hailey Simco, .311, and Addi Lewis, .302, are the other three to be batting above .300 this season.
In the circle, underclassmen Layne Bailey and Kaylee Underwood have been the primary starters. The sophomore, Bailey, is 1-3 across eight appearances with six starts, and has a 4.57 ERA in 30.2 innings, 12 strikeouts to 11 walks, opponents are batting .345 against her. As for Underwood, she is 3-6 across her 13 appearances, starting 12 of them in her freshman season. She holds a 4.60 ERA in 56.1 innings, striking out 24 and walking 11; opponents possess a .325 batting average against her.
In the all-time series, Carson-Newman is 11-7, but recent history has favored Lee. The Flames have won the last three, including a sweep last season in Jefferson City, 16-7 and 11-5.
First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Cleveland, Tennessee, and both games can be watched on FloSports ($).
