JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Mary Shealy threw a
no-hitter in game two of a non-conference doubleheader, and the
Carson-Newman College softball team rallied for a 2-1 win in the
opener en route to a sweep of Lees-McRae College on Monday
afternoon.
Carson-Newman (10-4) came back from a 1-0 deficit with two runs
in the bottom of the sixth inning to take game one by a score of
2-1, as the Eagles shut out Lees-McRae (4-5) in the night cap by a
tally of 8-0 in five innings. The Eagles tallied 16 base hits in
the twin-bill, pushing across 10 runs while holding the Bobcats to
six hits and one run.
Kierstie Moon (Oxford, Ga.) and Karli Robb (Hayes, Va.) each
tallied a pair of hits for the Bobcats, as Kim Coley (Marion, N.C.)
drove in the lone run for Lees-McRae. Laurel Gregg (Mars Hill,
N.C.) took the ball in game one, allowing two runs on nine hits in
six innings of work. Holli Crickenberger (Boydton, Va.) got the nod
in the night cap, allowing one earned run on five hits through
three innings. Kristen Oakes (Lenoir, N.C.) tossed the final inning
for the Bobcats in game two, surrendering two hits.
Kim Whaley and Shelby Robertson both tallied three hits to pace
the Eagles, as Bri Shoemake, Caitlyn Lance and Cassidy Skeen each
tallied a pair of base knocks. Shoemake posted a team-high two RBI
on the day, as Skeen clubbed a solo home run in game two.
Shealy got the nod in both games for Carson-Newman, allowing one
run on six hits and striking out seven in the opener. The senior
followed with a no-hitter in game two, walking three and striking
out four in five innings of work.
Game One: Carson-Newman 2, Lees-McRae 1 - Box Score
Lees-McRae struck first in the top of the third, pushing across
the game's first run when Coley singled to second, scoring Robb
from third after she led off with a walk and advanced to third on a
wild pitch. The Bobcats would threaten once again in the fourth,
putting runners on second and third before Shealy retired the final
two batters of the inning by way of the "K".
Carson-Newman found the answer in the bottom of the sixth,
pushing across two runs to take a 2-1 lead when Lance singled home
Skeen and Robertson scored on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a
one-run advantage. Shealy shut the door in the seventh, allowing a
one-out single by Robb before retiring the final two batters of the
inning to seal the victory.
Game Two: Carson-Newman 8, Lees-McRae 0 (5 innings) - Box Score
Shealy was the story of the game in the nightcap for
Carson-Newman, tossing a five-inning no-hitter as the Eagles pushed
across six runs in the first three innings. The Eagles got on the
board in the second, tallying the game's first run when Whaley
scored on a passed ball.
Carson-Newman pushed the margin to 6-0 with five runs in the
third, as Skeen led off with a solo shot to right and the Eagles
added four additional tallies in the inning on four hits and three
Bobcat miscues. The Eagles would cap the contest and invoke the
eight-run rule in the bottom of the fifth when Shoemake plated two
runs with a single.
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond on Wednesday when the Bobcats
travel to Hickory, N.C. to take on No. 9 Lenoir-Rhyne University in
a non-conference doubleheader at 2 p.m.
- LMC -
