Dalton's grand slam not enough as Eagles fall to Lander, 8-4
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Jonathan Dalton (Rutledge, Tenn.) hit a fifth-inning grand slam, but visiting Lander University belted three two-run home runs to beat Carson-Newman, 8-4, on Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. Lander improves to 18-14 with the win, while C-N falls to 15-19 in the loss.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's Jonathan Dalton (Rutledge, Tenn.) hit a fifth-inning grand slam, but visiting Lander University belted three two-run home runs to beat Carson-Newman, 8-4, on Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
Lander improves to 18-14 with the win, while C-N falls to 15-19 in the loss.
Dalton's grand slam was the Eagles' only big offensive blow of the day.
The senior drilled a two-out pitch from John Eric Haynes over the left centerfield fence to cut into a 6-4 Bearcat lead at the time.
C-N took advantage of two hit batsmen and a walk in the inning to load the bases, but couldn't climb any closer.
Lander jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the second when right fielder Patrick Grady drove a two-out offering from Eagle starter Evan Faithful (Hingham, Mass.) out to left for a two-run home run.
The Eagles threatened in the bottom of the second after a one-out triple by Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.), but couldn't move him across.
The Bearcats would build their lead to 6-0 in the fourth with a four-run frame.
After a leadoff single by Jacob Tisdale, Grady blasted his second two-run home run of the day to build a 4-0 LU lead. The shot was a mirror image of his second inning home run over the left field fence. Lander first baseman Jordan Owens would add a two-run double in the inning as the lead stretched to 6-0.
Lander outhit the Eagles 12-6.
Freshman Lucas Watson (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) turned in the most impressive outing of the day for the Eagles. He pitched 2.2 and struck out four in relief.
Carson-Newman puts a five-game SAC winning streak on the line on Friday as it begins a three-game series at Wingate University. First pitch is at 6 p.m. in Wingate, N.C.
