Base hits add up to double-digit run day for baseball in 12-1 run-rule over Shorter
The Eagles adjusted to eight different arms throughout the game for their ninth 10+ run game of 2026.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
ROME, Ga. – The Eagles adjusted to eight different arms throughout the game for their ninth 10+ run game of 2026.
"They're just a club right now that's had so many injuries, and it's hard to go into a year, and you lose as many starters as they've lost and some of the arms," said head coach Tom Griffin following the win. "It's a tough battle they have ahead of them, but the bats did well. Cole Nathan and Braxton Smith had a lot of hits early, which was good."
With the win, C-N improves to 17-12 on the year and is 9-2 in out-of-conference contests. They also have now won 11 games on the road, the 15th time under Tom Griffin that C-N has collected double-digit wins away from the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
"A couple of years ago, we weren't very good at non-conference midweek. So, I think we take it to heart, and we try to treat these games exactly like we would on a weekend," said Cole Nathan following the win.
Carson-Newman's offense scored seven runs in an error-filled second inning. Braxton Smith (Cleveland, Tenn.) singled in the first run of the inning, scoring Bradley Soto Diaz (Davenport, Fla.). Two batters later, Smith scored off an error by the Shorter pitcher to make it a 2-0 game.
C-N's next three runs in the second all came on consecutive base hits. RBI singles from Sean Strittmatter, Colton Evans and Cole Nathan ballooned the advantage to 5-0 in just seven pitches. Shorter's fourth error of the second inning brought home two C-N runs to cap the seven-run inning. The Eagles scored seven runs on six hits in the second and took advantage of four Shorter errors.
"Just saw and hit it. No thoughts up there," said Nathan. "We were getting a new pitcher every inning, so really there's nothing you can think when you're going up there except see the fast ball and hit the pitch where it's thrown."
The Eagles piled three more runs on in the third. Carson Cochran's first RBI of the day scored Johno Pierce (Knoxville, Tenn.) to make it an 8-0 game. Nathan continued his quality day at the dish, driving in a pair of runs to push the lead to 10-0 after three frames.
C-N scored for the third consecutive inning thanks to a Smith RBI groundout in the fourth.
Eli Norris (Ringgold, Ga.) made his first career start and tossed three scoreless innings. The senior right-hander had to work around a season-high five walks and just 31 strikes in 65 pitches. He struck out three Shorter hitters and allowed just one hit.
"Defense was solid, and we used Eli to start him. We've used him as a closer almost like maybe he's too fresh. So we think, let's get him tired because the command has been something we're we're trying to get better at. So, the key is he limited damage," said Griffin.
Drew Fletcher (Waxhaw, N.C.) took over for Norris in the bottom of the fourth. The freshman went one, two, three with a strikeout in his first frame, but allowed back-to-back hits in the bottom of the fifth that scored the Hawks lone run of the ballgame.
Fletcher collected two strikeouts in two innings of work, allowing two hits and one run.
Aaron Bobo made his second appearance in 2026 in the bottom of the 6th. The freshman walked his first batter, but was quickly redeemed by Kevin Hammond when the runner was caught stealing at second. Hammond had come in after the starting catcher, Carson Cochran, was pinch-hit for. Bobo sat the last two batters down with weak contact for a scoreless inning of work.
The final offense of the day began with a Hammond walk in the top of the 7th. The sophomore got to third off a passed ball coupled with a wild pitch. Then, Ryan Bolton hit a hard ground ball was slowed up off the Shorter pitcher's cleat. Hammond scored on the contact, but Bolton was out at first.
In the bottom of the 7th, Cameron Butler closed the run-rule decision, drawing two groundouts and a fly ball that ended the game with a 12-1 score.
The Eagles piled up 13 hits throughout the day, with four players notching multiple hits. Nathan was 3-4 with 3 RBI's, and Braxton Smith also had a productive day, going 2-3 with 2 RBI's. What more, they worked the hits off eight different arms from Shorter.
"The scouting reports that Coach Krob does and Coach Miller and Coach Goforth, what they do and how they're talking to hitters and how the hitters are talking to each other when a guy comes back in," said Griffin. "Quick, detailed scouting report on what this guy's stuff is doing. So, I think it's all about communication."
C-N has now leveled the all-time series against the Hawks at 9-9, and will face them at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex later this season on April 21st.
"We know how good we can be. We just got to go in there and be aggressive, swing at pitches we want, and I think we can do it," said Nathan.
The Eagles have won back-to-back games and will look to the weekend when they host Newberry for a three-game set in Jefferson City. Game one is scheduled for Friday, March 27th at 2:00 PM.
Coverage will be available on FloSports and on Carson-Newman's YouTube channel for a special in-the-booth feed. You can listen to an audio-only version of the game at cneagles.com/live and follow @cneagles on social media for updates.
