Long Powers Eagles by Montevallo, 9-4
Feb. 6, 2009
MONTEVALLO, Ala. - First Baseman Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.) went 3-for-5, including a two-run double and a two-run home run, as Carson-Newman won the series opener at the University of Montevallo on Friday afternoon, 9-4.
The Eagles improve to 4-0, while Montevallo falls to 2-2.
Long plated C-N's first four runs of the day. The Jefferson County product drilled an offering from Falcons' starter Taylor Edwards over the centerfield fence to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. He followed with a one-out, two-run double to right center in the fifth, scoring Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) and Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.).
"(Long) is just on first in the middle of the order," Eagle head coach Tom Griffin said. "The guys in front of him were on base all day, and he took advantage."
Patterson finished with two hits and two runs scored, while freshman Aaron Vargas (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) added a 1-for-2 day, reaching and scoring three times. He also dropped down a fourth-inning sacrifice bunt to move Patterson and Nix up for Long's key double.
Senior Corbin Ariail (1-0) pitched into the eighth inning to pick up the win. The Eglin, S.C. native scattered seven hits and left the mound with a 7-2 lead in the eighth. Junior Ryan Hendrickson (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) closed out the win.
"Ariail was pretty tough today," Griffin added of his starter. "He had been struggling with his slider and change, but found it today. We played pretty good defense behind him to get out of some tough spots."
Senior Tyler Wynn (Lagrange, Ga.) added a solo home run for the Eagles. He finished 2-for-4.
As a team, the Eagles pounded out 13 hits, marking the fourth time in four games C-N has reached double figures in the category.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is at 1 p.m. CST at Kermit A. Johnson Park.
