SALISBURY, N.C. – The Newberry College softball team fell to Carson-Newman College by the narrowest of margins, 1-0, this afternoon during the 2006 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference first round.  The sixth seeded Lady Indians held their third seeded opponents scoreless for five innings, until the Lady Eagles rallied for the game’s only run in the sixth inning. 

With the loss, Newberry (19-33-1) moves into the loser’s bracket, while Carson-Newman (40-11) advances to the second round. 

Both pitchers had no-hitters after three innings, until Carson-Newman’s Lisa Rogers (Rossville, Ga.) singled up the middle in the bottom of the fourth.  Newberry rallied in the top of the sixth after Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) started the inning with a bunt single.  Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) followed with a single to center field, but the Lady Indians were unable to plate either runner.

Carson-Newman responded in their half of the inning and eventually scored the game-winning run.  Kathryn Speaks (Manassas, Va.) started the rally with a single to left field and Rogers followed with a base on balls.  Amber Palmer (Kennesaw, Ga.) reached on an infield single, setting up Kim Thorne’s (Dalton, Ga.) game-winning, sacrifice fly RBI to left field. 

Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) got Newberry going in the top of the seventh with a double to left center, but it was too little, too late as the Lady Indians couldn’t produce the tying run. 

Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) (12-15) threw an exceptional game, but picked up the loss for Newberry despite giving up just three hits and striking out four.  Megan Elliott (Chattanooga, Tenn.) (29-7) earned the win for the Lady Eagles on six strike outs and just three hits. 

Newberry will face seventh seed Mars Hill College in the loser’s bracket opener tomorrow morning, April 21.  The action will take place at Salisbury Community Park beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Carson-Newman is set to face second seed Wingate University tomorrow in the second round at Catawba College.  First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.