Shealy belts another late home run to lead C-N to sweep of Mars Hill

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's Mary Shealy pitched six shutout innings in the opener and then hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning in game two to power the lady Eagles to a South Atlantic Conference sweep of Mars Hill on Wednesday at the C-N Softball Complex. C-N controlled game one, winning 7-1, while the Lady Eagles rallied to win 5-4 in game two.

With the wins, C-N moves to 28-19 overall and 9-7 in SAC play with two games left, while Mars Hill falls to 21-21 and 6-10.

Game 1 - Carson-Newman 7, Mars Hill 1

Shealy took a shutout into the seventh inning and Sara Kelley blasted a two-run home run as C-N dominated the opener, 7-1.

Shealy held Mars Hill to two hits through six innings before the Lions finally broke through with a pair of infield singles and a run in the final inning, but it was too late to catch a Lady Eagle offense that started the game hot.

C-N jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first as Kim Whaley singled to right to score Shelby Robertson to give C-N a 1-0 lead. C-N had four hits in the inning, all singles, jumping on Lions' starter Taylor Morris early.

The Lady Eagles moved their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fourth. Bri Shoemake and Caitlyn Lance had back-to-back doubles off the left field wall and Robertson added her second hit in as many at-bats.

The trio powered the C-N offense in the win, as C-N's second through fifth hitters combined to 11-for-16 with five extra-base hits. Robertson had hits in her first three at bats and scored twice.

Carson-Newman put the game out of reach in the fifth with three more runs. Kelley's two-run home run sailed into the trees in left center as C-N built its lead to 7-0. Lance added her second RBI double of the game in the inning.

Kelley finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Mars Hill finally broke through on Shealy, loading the bases in the seventh behind a trio of singles. The Lions' Natalie Haithcox's sacrifice fly to right field to score Ashley McCurry plated Mars Hill's lone run.

Game 2 – Carson-Newman 5, Mars Hill 4

C-N's Shealy belted a towering two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give C-N a 4-3 lead and Bethany Davis added a much-needed insurance run with a solo blast two batters later as the Lady Eagles rallied for a 5-4 win in game two.

Shealy's one-out shot off of Mars Hill starter Taylor Hussey hit off the top of the secondary fence for her fourth home run of the year and gave C-N the lead. Whaley also scored on the home run after reaching on a single. Davis followed with an opposite field shot into the trees in right center as C-N took a 5-3 lead into the seventh.

Mars Hill had answers in the seventh as McCurry singled and scored on a line drive to right by the Lions' Robyn Stanek. C-N caught a break when Stanek was thrown out trying to take second on the throw to the plate, erasing the tying run from the bases. Shealy retired Mars Hill's Natalie Haithcox to end the game after pitching around her for much of the day.

Cassie Elliott sparked the C-N offense early. She had two hits, including a leadoff double to score C-N's first run in the third and an RBI single in the fourth as C-N took its first lead, 2-1.

Mars Hill rallied for two runs in the fifth to take a one-run lead. Shaundee Woolsey stroked a two-run double into left center with two outs as the Lion's finally broke through with runners in scoring position.

McCurry led Mars Hill with a 3-for-4 day and three runs scored. Woosley and Stanek each added two hits.

Kelley and Whaley each joined Elliott with two hits in the win. Both teams had nine hits, but C-N's two home runs were the difference.

Shealy (WP, 28-19) picked up both wins on the day pitching all 14 innings to remain among the nation's leaders in wins. Her go-ahead home run was the second in C-N's final at bat in the Lady Eagles' last three SAC games. She hit a walk-off home run in a 4-3 win against Anderson on Friday afternoon.

C-N returns to action on Saturday against Brevard. First pitch is at 1 p.m. in Brevard, N.C.