Eagles Take Two Of Three
April 2, 2007
CLINTON, SC--After splitting Saturday's doubleheader, the Carson-Newman Eagles blanked Presbyterian, 9-0 to win the three-game series and improve to 22-13 overall and 10-4 in the South Atlantic Conference.
PC starting pitcher Jesse Harmon and C-N starter Cole Draughn each cruised through the first five innings matching one another pitch for pitch before the Eagles finally broke through with four runs in the sixth inning. Harmon (2-5) suffered the loss allowing four runs in five and 1/3 innings pitched with two walks and five strikeouts.
The C-N sixth inning was highlighted by an RBI single by Nick Achberger and a run scoring double to center field off the bat of Adam Kefauver. The Eagles added three more runs in the seventh off of Blue Hose reliever Ben Dollar with Kefauver and Achberger each driving in another run to run the score to 7-0. The Eagles tacked on the final two runs of the ballgame in the ninth inning to close out the scoring.
Draughn (5-1) went the distance for C-N to pick up his fifth win of the season, scattering four hits while walking two and striking out three.
The middle of the order, consisting of Achberger, Derek Long, and Kefauver, supplied all of the Eagles runs with two RBIs each. Centerfielder Brandon Burchfield had a perfect day at the plate for Carson-Newman, finishing 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Saturday's Finals: Game 1: Carson-Newman 6, PC 5
Carson-Newman plated two runs with two outs in the sixth inning to push ahead of PC. With two outs PC second baseman Preston Simpson was unable to come up with a grounder off the bat of Cory McGinnis, which allowed the inning to continue.
Jonathan McMahon would follow with a walk and both runners would advance on a wild pitch. Eagle centerfielder Brandon Burchfield then drove in the go-ahead runs on a single to left field before being thrown out trying to advance to second base.
After falling behind 3-0 through five innings the Blue Hose capitalized on a pair of C-N errors to score five runs and take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Robbie Anders and Kyle Craven drove in the first two runs to chase Eagle starter Matt Teague from the game. Casey Carlson then drove in Anders on a sacrifice fly to center. Two more runs would cross the plate in the inning off of a couple of Eagle throwing errors.
Jesse Harmon continued to lead PC at the plate going 3-for-4 at the dish with a run scored. C-N first baseman Derek Long also had three hits in the game, driving in two runs.
Both squads finished with nine hits but the Blue Hose committed six errors in the game and stranded 11 base runners.
Logan Simmons claimed his third win of the season for the Eagles, pitching three scoreless innings in relief while Mark Carroll earned his fifth save of the year. Ross Ellis (0-2) picked up the loss for Presbyterian in relief of starter Daniel Hill who allowed only two earned runs in six innings of work.
Game 2 PC 5, Carson-Newman 4
With the infield drawn in and the bases loaded, Presbyterian shortstop Robbie Anders delivered a base hit to score Russell Robinson in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 5-4 PC victory.
C-N took the lead early with two runs in the third and fourth innings. Adam Kefauver doubled and scored on an error while Mills Rogers scored on a Jonathan McMahon sacrifice fly. In the fourth inning, Chris Cameron's single scored Michael Brown and a Mills Rogers sac fly scored Derek Long to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead. The Blue Hose would battle back with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
An RBI triple by Cory Lyda scored PC's first run of the game, knocking Eagles starter Steve Cishek from the contest. Russell Robinson then singled down the right field line to score Lyda.
Lyda came through with another hit the following inning when he doubled to right center to score Jesse Harmon and Josh Milner to tie the game.
In the bottom of the ninth Robinson and Craven led off with back-to-back singles. Casey Carlson then laid down a bunt that was fielded by Mark Carroll.
Robinson was able to slide in safely at third base to load the bases with just one out. With the infield drawn in, Anders looped Eagle closer Mark Carroll's 0-1 pitch just over the reach of second baseman Langdon Potts for the winning hit.
Andrew Cockerham (2-0) earned the win in relief. He allowed no runs and no walks while giving up just two hits and fanning three. C-N closer Mark Carroll took the loss for the Eagles after allowing the game-winning run and five hits in the final two innings.
