Looking to get back on track, C-N hosts Tusculum
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to avoid a fourth straight loss, Carson-Newman continues its homestand with a non-conference game against Tusculum on Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to avoid a fourth straight loss, Carson-Newman continues its homestand with a non-conference game against Tusculum on Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
Carson-Newman (10-6) has not lost four consecutive home games since a span of six in a row from March 23 to April 6, 2019 losing two to Tusculum, one each to Young Harris and Shorter and two to Newberry. The silver lining of that last skid is that C-N rattled off nine victories in a row following the losing streak. With five losses at home this year, the Eagles have surpassed their total from 2021 when the unit went 16-4.
The Eagles pitching staff has been specifically stingy against left-handed hitters this year with foes hitting .202 overall on the year. Most of the damage came in the first five games with 17 of the 34 hits allowed coming in that period. In the last 10 games, opponents are 17-for-111 good for a .153 clip.
Through four midweek games, Carson-Newman pitching has been excellent giving up a .265 opponent's batting average striking out 45 batters and walking just 10. The only area that has hurt the team is home runs giving up six. Defensively, the team has only made three errors.
In 102 meetings, C-N and Tusculum (7-7) are in a tight tussle with the Eagles holding the overall edge 53-50 and a 23-22 advantage at Mossy Creek. The Pioneers have won six of the last eight games including taking three of four at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex in 2021. However, coach Tom Griffin's team won in the SAC Tournament 8-6 overcoming a 4-1 deficit to score seven unanswered runs.
In five overall meetings in 2021, the team's combined to walk 57 batters plunking another 21. C-N's pitching staff held the edge with 35 strikeouts. At the plate, the Eagles outhit the Pioneers 46-41 but saw Tusculum hit seven home runs.
Last year, coach Brandon Steele guided the club to a second-place finish in the regular season winning 25 SAC games. The Pioneers have big shoes to fill including the program's all-time hits leader, Daulton Martin, all-time stolen base leader, Bryson Ford and All-American Mitch McCain.
Zane Keener was the only player to be named to the preseason All-SAC roster after batting .263 with six doubles, one triple and three home runs. He is off to a great start to this season with hits in 11 of the 14 games on the year posting a .360 clip with three homers and 16 RBIs.
After winning four in a row, Tusculum has lost four straight including being swept by Queens over the weekend being outscored 24-5 by the Royals. At the plate the team has been held to single-digit hits in 11 of the 14 games. Overall the lineup is posting a .256 batting average and a .353 on-base percentage. Only two players with more than three at-bats are hitting at least .300 on the year.
In the series against the Royals, the club mustered 14 total hits granted two went out of the ball park. On the mound, the pitching staff allowed a .351 batting average fanning only 14 batters while walking 11. The defense also committed seven errors with a passed ball.
Tusculum's pitching staff have given up double-digit hits six times including in three of the last four games. Missing bats has been an issue at times with the team striking out four or fewer four times including twice to Queens.
While starting pitching has been mostly solid, seven relievers have given up multiple runs in less than four innings of work. Justin Parker has been the team's most viable option through six appearances posting a 2.63 ERA over 13 2/3 innings of work. Three of those runs came on Saturday after he had allowed one earned run through his first 9 1/3 innings on the year.
Wednesday's game can be seen and heard with video and audio streams available thanks to the Eagle Sports Network by visiting cneagles.com/live for all of the action from the banks of Mossy Creek.
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