Eagles swept by No. 13 Tusculum
March 21, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Carson-Newman baseball team fell to No. 13 Tusculum twice on Saturday at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. The Eagles lost the first game 6-3 and dropped a 14-8 decision in game two.
With the losses, C-N falls to 16-13 overall and 2-8 in the SAC. Tusculum improves to 20-9 on the year and 11-0 in conference play.
The Pioneers offense was too much for C-N to handle as they pounded out 25 hits on the afternoon, including five home runs.
The Eagles also had plenty of success at the plate with 23 hits but had a rough day in the field, committing five errors.
In the first game, the Pioneers led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but C-N shortstop Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) delivered a two-run double down the left field line in the home half of the inning to tie the game at 3-3.
However, Tusculum scored three runs in the top of the seventh to earn the win. Sean Cotten's (Mooresville, N.C.) sacrifice fly to right field drove in Aaron Hudgins (Kingsport, Tenn.) for the decisive run. Jared Richmond (Fort Smith, Ark.) then blasted a two-run home run to right center to give the Pioneers a 6-3 advantage.
Rogers collected two hits and drove in three runs to lead C-N, while Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) also had two hits each in the loss.
Nate Grabowski (Pennellville, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 and drove in a run for Tusculum.
Pioneers starting hurler C.J. Hillyer (Abington, Mass.) (4-1) earned the win after giving up three runs on 10 hits and striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings of work.
Tusculum reliever Rob Currie (St. Charles, Ill.) tossed a scoreless 1 2/3 innings and struck out four to pick up his fourth save of the season.
C-N relief pitcher Robby Thigpen (St. Petersburg, Fla.) (2-1) was tagged with the loss. Thigpen surrendered one unearned run and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings on the mound.
In game two, Tusculum collected 15 hits and C-N produced 13, but the Eagles committed four costly errors.
Tyler Kitts (Knoxville, Tenn.) went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs for C-N, while Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.), Rogers and Mason Guymon (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) also had two hits in the loss.
Ricky Feliz (Miami, Fla.) powered the Tusculum lineup by going 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Hudgins also went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. Richmond finished with three hits, while Tim Kellinger (Knoxville, Md.) and Matt Ford (Jonesborough, Tenn.) added two hits each for the Pioneers.
Pioneers starting pitcher Max Keleher (Port Charlotte, Fla.) (4-2) picked up the win. Keleher gave up six runs on 10 hits and struck out five in 4 2/3 innings of work.
C-N starter Ryan Hendrickson (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) (1-2) was hit with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits in two innings on the mound. Hendrickson also walked four batters and struck out three.
Rogers, Wesley Dozier (Cornelius, N.C.) and Long each produced a run-scoring double in the bottom of the first inning to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead, but Tusculum erupted for eight runs in the top of the second to take the lead for good.
Feliz crushed a two-run home run in the top of the third to give the Pioneers a 10-3 cushion and put the game out of reach.
C-N returns to the diamond on Sunday to wrap up its three-game series with the Pioneers at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
