Carson-Newman Opens SAC Play by Sweeping Catawba, 6-4 and 7-0

SALISBURY, N.C. — Carson-Newman swept a softball doubleheader from host Catawba to open South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Whitley Field. The Lady Eagles won the opener 6-4 in eight innings then took game two 7-0. Carson-Newman improves to 19-2 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians fall to 19-12 and 0-2.

Carson-Newman survived the opener on a two-run home run by Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) with two outs in the eighth. Catawba had rallied in the seventh to force the extra frame. Allie Marshall (Pleasant Garden, N.C./SW Guilford HS) forced in a run with a two-out walk then Tara Gibbs (Waynesville, N.C./Tuscola HS) doubled home two runs to tie the game at 4-all.

The Lady Eagles went on top in the first on a single by Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn). Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) added to the lead in the fifth on a two-out, three-run homer. Catawba scored its first run in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded walk to Carly Sabat (Warren, Ohio/Howland HS).

It was all Carson-Newman in game two as the Lady Eagles out-hit Catawba 15-3. Shealy tossed the shutout and posted six strikeouts. Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.) went 4-for-5 in game two after collecting a pair of hits in the opener. Sara Little (Calhoun, Ga.) and Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) each had two hits and two RBI. Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.) earned the win in game one, allowing one earned run off nine hits.

Gibbs had a hit in each game for Catawba. Katie Huggins (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell HS/Lake Sumter CC) had three hits on the day with two in the opener. Alli Justice (Bishopville, Md./Decatur HS) also had two hits in the opener.

(Courtesy of Catawba Sports Information)