Eagles stay hot at the plate in 7-5 win over Brevard at Smokies Park
April 5, 2009
KODAK, Tenn. -- The Carson-Newman baseball team continued its torrid pace at the plate Sunday afternoon by pounding out 12 hits on its way to a 7-5 victory over South Atlantic Conference foe Brevard at Smokies Park.
The Eagles, which swept the three-game series with the win, racked up 41 hits and scored 28 runs in the series. C-N has reach double digits in hits in six out of their last seven contests and 12 out of 16.
"We've been swinging the bats well, and some guys are getting hot right now," C-N coach Tom Griffin said. "We are putting together some crooked numbers and we are getting some big hits back-to-back, which is huge for us right now."
With the victory, C-N improves to 21-16 overall and 6-10 in the SAC. Brevard drops to 8-25 on the year and 2-16 in conference play.
Griffin said playing at the home of the Tennessee Smokies, the double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, was a great experience for all parties involved.
"I just want to thank (Tennessee general manager) Brian Cox and the Smokies," Griffin said. "I'd love to be able to do it once a year every year. It's a great environment. I know Brevard enjoyed it and I know our kids had a blast coming here. For the community, Jefferson County and Carson-Newman, it's great. I hope he lets us do it again."
Junior Corey Lamson (Gray, Tenn.) went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead the Eagles. Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.) added two hits and two steals in the win. Patterson finished the series with four steals. Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) also tallied two hits, including a home run.
The Tornados finish the day with nine hits. Jackie Corn (Hendersonville, N.C.) went 3-for-4 and scored three runs to lead the way.
C-N starting pitcher Robby Thigpen (St. Petersburg, Fla.) (3-1) pitched four innings and allowed two runs on six hits and struck out three batters to earn the win.
"Robby did a nice job," Griffin said. "He's just an efficient pitcher."
Eagles reliever Corbin Ariail (Elgin, S.C.) tossed 2 1/3 no-hit innings and finished with one strikeout to pick up his fifth save of the season.
Brevard starting hurler Seth Laughter (Fletcher, N.C.) (2-5) was tagged with the loss. The senior right-hander surrendered seven runs on 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings of work.
The Eagles jumped out to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Wesley Dozier (Cornelius, N.C.) drove in Patterson with a sacrifice fly to right field. Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.) then singled and later scored on a Tyler Wynn (LaGrange, Ga.) single for the final run of the inning.
C-N added to its lead in the bottom of the third, as Rogers drove home Aaron Vargas (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) with a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Brevard trimmed C-N's lead to 3-2 in the top of the fourth on a two-run double by M.A. Dozier (Cumming, Ga.).
The Eagles responded, however, in the home half of the fourth to push their lead back to three runs. Lamson and Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) produced back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Lamson later scored on a Mason Guymon (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) groundout. Nix then stole third and advanced home on a throwing error to give C-N a 5-2 advantage.
Matthew Pruitt (Hendersonville, N.C.) crushed a two-run double to deep center field in the top of the fifth to cut C-N's lead to 5-4, but Rogers delivered a solo shot over the left-field wall in the bottom of the fifth to give C-N a 6-4 advantage.
Eagles reliever Ryan Hendrickson (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) took over in the top of the sixth and kept C-N's momentum going by striking out the side.
The Tornados pulled to within 6-5 in the top of the seventh. Corn produced a two-out double to get things started and later scored after Kellen Moman (Greenville, S.C.), Pruitt and Josh Miller (Hendersonville, N.C.) drew back-to-back-to-back walks. However, Brevard's rally ended there, as Ariail entered to take over for Hendrickson and was able to get Vance Crook (West Union, S.C.) to line out to third to end the threat.
"Ariail did a great job, but we shouldn't have been in that situation," Griffin said. "That door has to be shut down. Three walks led to that, and that's not good baseball right there. (Ariail getting Crook out) was very big for us."
The Eagles scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, as Patterson ripped a RBI double down the left-field line to give C-N a 7-5 lead heading into the ninth.
Ariail then closed out the game by not allowing a run or a hit in the top of the ninth.
C-N returns to the diamond on Wednesday for a doubleheader against North Greenville. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
