Eagles win first NCAA Tournament game since 2019, but fall on walk-off in nightcap to No. 15 LR
FLORENCE, S.C. – The 2026 season came to an end for Carson-Newman (41-14), falling in nine innings on a walk-off against No. 15 Lenoir-Rhyne (41-14) in the Florence Region semifinals. Earlier in the afternoon, C-N staved off elimination with a 5-3 win over Anderson, the first NCAA Tournament win since 2019.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
VIDEO: Michael Graves and Macauley Bailey Interview vs Lenoir-Rhyne
VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview vs Anderson
FLORENCE, S.C. – The 2026 season came to an end for Carson-Newman (41-14), falling in nine innings on a walk-off against No. 15 Lenoir-Rhyne (41-14) in the Florence Region semifinals. Earlier in the afternoon, C-N staved off elimination with a 5-3 win over Anderson, the first NCAA Tournament win since 2019.
Despite the loss, head coach Michael Graves was impressed by his team's effort and resilience through a grueling day in a pair of elimination games.
"[Softball's] a funny little game, I think that's the best game we played all weekend down here, probably the best we've played in a couple weeks, and we end up on the short end," Graves said. "Had some opportunities early and didn't come through, but great game by both teams. You hate to lose those, but let's just hope it's a good experience, especially with all the young kids."
The Eagles started day two with a come-from-behind effort to topple Anderson, 5-3, in the fifth meeting this season, giving them their first NCAA Tournament win in seven years. The Trojans jumped in front 3-0 after two innings, before C-N erupted for the final five runs, including four in the sixth.
Elimination Game #1: Carson-Newman 5, Anderson 3
Regan Rowan (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) made her first start in over a month but fell behind early as Anderson jumped out to an early lead. Shelby Bandt started with a walk before Carson Hobbs ripped a double to right center, 1-0.
The Trojans added two more in the second as Bella Harbour reached on an error and scored on an infield single from Chloe Maness. Later, a throwing error from C-N allowed Maness to score, 3-0, both runs were unearned.
In the bottom of the second, the Eagles threatened with the bases loaded but left them stranded. As Rowan started to settle into a groove in the circle, the offensive opportunities mounted for C-N, loading the bases in the fourth, but came away empty.
Then in the fifth, the Eagles plated their first run as Addie Saunders (Radford, Va.) started a two-out rally and came in to score on a bases-loaded walk from Anne Marie Richards (Spring Hill, Tenn.), 3-1.
After Rowan stranded two in the top of the sixth, Carson-Newman struck for four in the sixth, taking a late lead. It started as Sarah Walker (Mills River, N.C.) was hit by a pitch, then Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) and Malyiah Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled to load the bases. Then Saunders delivered with a game-tying single to score pinch-runner Bailee Worley (Black Mountain, N.C.) and Martin. The Eagles took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.), with Grace Gregory (White House, Tenn.) adding insurance with an RBI double, 5-3.
Atiana Stamper (Knoxville, Tenn.) posted a 1-2-3 seventh as Katey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va.) made a diving grab in foul territory to wrap it up.
Rowan picked up the win, tossing six strong innings, allowing one earned run, while Stamper recorded her third save of the season.
"Cardiac kids. Man, I wish they'd score in the first three or four innings," Graves said following the win. "Seems like the last five or six games, maybe we've scored one run before we get to the fifth inning."
Elimination Game #2: No. 15 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Carson-Newman 2
In their second straight elimination game, the Eagles took coach Graves' words to heart, as they opened the scoring in the top of the first. Malyiah Smith reached on a leadoff error and made her way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Addie Saunders and a groundout from Macauley Bailey, before Grace Gregory shot it up the middle to plate Smith, 1-0.
Lenoir-Rhyne was quick to answer against Atiana Stamper in the bottom half of the first. A walk and a two-strike hit batter put two on with two outs as Avery Kiger drove it on the wall in right center to score both, 2-1.
Following a scoreless second, C-N brought things level in the third. Smith again began the inning, reaching on an error, she swiped second base, and then an infield single by Bailey put runners on the corners. Gregory did her job with a sacrifice fly to score Smith, 2-2.
Then the pitchers' duel between Atiana Stamper and LR's Madison went into full effect.
Both sides had chances, with the Eagles getting two on with no outs in the fourth, but were unable to bring them in.
Jumping forward to the seventh, a leadoff single from Alex Gray put the winning run on base for the Bears, then pinch-runner Chloe Woodward stole third, putting pressure on with one away. Wilson then slashed one back to Stamper, who caught it and went to third to end the inning with a double play, sending it to extras.
In the top of the eighth, Carson-Newman again got two on, but back-to-back punch outs from Wilson slammed the door.
Lenoir-Rhyne delivered the knockout blow in the ninth, as back-to-back walks and an infield single loaded the bases. An infield popout put one away, but it was Wilson driving one into the left field corner to walk it off, 3-2.
Looking back on the season, senior Macauley Bailey was thankful for her teammates and the school that has given her so much.
"To all the little girls, stick with it, you can do it. Softball is a mentally challenging and draining sport, but eventually it comes through. The ball will fall, the game always knows, your time will come, not everybody's going to be great all the time, it's part of the game, but your time is always there. I said that to Katey in the outfield when she made that catch against Anderson. Her time came, and she made the play, I'm super proud of her," Bailey said. "I'm so grateful to have been a Lady Eagle, to spend my four years here, and finish out the season with these people."
The 2026 season was historic for Carson-Newman on multiple levels, producing the most wins and the longest winning streak since 2017. Offensively, the Eagles racked up 576 hits and drove in 338 runs, both the most in a single season. The third-most runs scored, 363, their .364 batting average and .426 on-base percentage are the fourth-best marks in program history.
Michael Graves and Carson-Newman say goodbye to a senior class that ended their tenure with 132 wins and their second trip to the NCAA Tournament. Macauley Bailey and Grace Gregory are expected to return to the banks of Mossy Creek as softball coaches, while Riley Sikes will coach high school softball and teach Spanish at Jefferson County High School. Alaina Smith and Bailee Worley are preparing for careers in nursing, while Abbi Martin begins a physician's assistant program at UAB in the fall. Lastly, dugout favorite Ally Goodwin didn't play this year, but ran the scorebook at every game.
"You get attached to them. Macauley has been a big part of what we've been trying to do for so long. Abbi, I told her it's going to feel so weird not having her around. Everybody loves Grace to death. Riley's another one that seems like she's been here forever. Bailee and I have had a good time together, she left early before that last game to study for a nursing exam, so I wish her the best of luck in her future," Graves said. "It's tough when you lose a bunch of kids that have meant so much to your program."
