JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Newberry softball dropped both games of their doubleheader against Carson-Newman in the final matchup of the regular season. The Wolves conclude the season tied for second overall in the South Atlantic Conference marking the program's best finish in conference play since finishing tied for first in 1999.
Newberry drops to 29-15 and 11-9 in the SAC while Carson-Newman moves to 26-9 and 11-9 in the SAC. The Wolves are currently tied in the league standings with both Carson-Newman and Wingate.
Game One (Newberry falls 6-0 vs. Carson-Newman)
The Eagles scored three runs in the first inning and held the Wolves scoreless throughout the game. Carson-Newman's Allison Rager stymied Newberry's offense as she struck out six batters and didn't allow a hit in her outing.
Paige Meyer would lead off the game by getting hit by a pitch. The sophomore then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
McKenzie Barneycastle, but the Eagles managed to record two outs to get out of the inning.
Chelsey Cunningham managed a similar situation as she was granted first base on another hit by pitch in the sixth inning. A sacrifice bunt by Meyer and a groundout from Barneycastle moved Cunningham to third base, but the Eagles managed to record the final out to avoid Newberry's scoring threat.
The Eagles added runs in the fourth and sixth innings and would cruise to a 6-0 victory.
Game Two (Newberry falls 12-4 vs. Carson-Newman (6 inn.))
Newberry's offense would come alive in the first inning in Game Two starting with a leadoff single by Meyer. Barneycastle would follow it up with a triple to right center to give the Wolves their first lead of the day at 1-0.
Carson-Newman would cut Newberry's lead short, however, as the Eagles would score two runs on two hits, taking a 2-1 lead.
Barneycastle would be the answer for the Wolves in the third inning as she reached base on a bunt-single in the third inning. A hit through the right side by
Natalie Willis put runners on the corners for the Wolves.
An error by the Eagles saw Barneycastle reach home to tie the game.
Hannah Davis hit an RBI double to right center as the Wolves would retake the lead at 3-2.
The Eagles immediately answered back in the bottom half of the inning with four runs on three hits, this time holding onto the lead for the remainder of the game.
Newberry would get one run as
Reagan Glanz led off the fourth inning with a single to left center field. A sacrifice bunt by
Ashley Willis advanced Glanz to second where she then scored as Cunningham singled to right center.
The Eagles would then add runs in the next three innings to put away the Wolves, earning a 12-4 victory.
Up Next:
The Wolves will look ahead to SAC Tournament this weekend hosted by Catawba. Newberry will enter the tournament field as the fourth or fifth seed depending on the result of other matchups today.
