#24 Carson-Newman Sweeps Cougars on Saturday

Jefferson City, Tenn. -- Columbus State scored four runs in the third inning and another in the fourth to lead #24 Carson-Newman 5-4  in the first game of a double header on Saturday, but could not hold the lead as the Eagles took a 7-6 win. C-N went on to sweep the Cougars with a 10-0 shellacking in game two.

"We fought hard in game one and I was proud of them for going toe-to-toe with a very good team," said CSU coach Brad Huskisson. "We have to find a way to get that same sort of effort the next game after one like that. We have a habit of looking like a totally different team in those."

Carrie Jones got the big hit in the third inning, a bases-loaded double, to knock in three runs and cut a 4-0 deficit to 4-3. Rocky Hemmer then tied the game with a single to score Jones.

In the fourth, Brittany Leverett gave the Cougars the lead with a sacrifice fly to center field. That scored Kori Waugh, who led off the frame with a walk. CSU had the bases loaded with no outs, but managed just the one run.

Monica Shealy blasted a three-run homer in the fifth to put the Eagles back in front 7-5. Leverett answered with a solo shot - her first of the year - in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-6, but Hemmer lined into a double play to end the game in the seventh.

Kristi Bullard took the loss, going four innings and allowing six earned runs. Kelsey Gilliam finished up with two scoreless innings.

Leverett, Hemmer and Keeley Kennedy each had two hits.

In the nightcap, the Eagles scored four runs in the third and fourth innings to post the shutout in five innings. Four pitchers combined to allow the 10 runs, nine of which were earned. Brittni McCall took the loss.

Shealy tossed a two-hitter for C-N, with Jones and Branigan Wix getting the only safeties for CSU.

The Cougars conclude their weekend in Tennessee with a twinbill at Lincoln-Memorial on Sunday.