Kazee-Hollifield gets career win 1,100 as Eagles sweep Cavs
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (8-2) used a doubleheader sweep of UVA-Wise (3-3) to get head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield to the 1,100-win mark Tuesday afternoon at the field that bears her name.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
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1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | X | 7 | 6 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 4 | 9 | 0 |
VIDEO: Vickee Hollifield Interview
VIDEO: Lacie Rinus Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
The Eagles took game one 7-3 for win 1,099 before a 4-0 shutout produced career win 1,100 for Kazee-Hollifield in the nightcap.
The games ran concurrently with the dedication of Ken Sparks Way, the renaming of College Street for Carson-Newman's former head football coach and the all-time wins leader in Division II.
"The day wasn't about me, but about Ken, and by that virtue, God and Jesus Christ," Kazee-Hollifield said. "Coach Sparks means so much to all of us in the Carson-Newman family. To see that, it means more than any victories today."
As game one ended, Kazee-Hollifield and her team sprinted the block over to Stokely Memorial Cafeteria where the ceremony was being held. The moment was reminiscent of 2014 when Sparks pulled his team out of spring practice to watch Kazee-Hollifield collect her 1,000th career win with a 10-0 defeat of Limestone.
Kazee-Hollifield becomes the 19th head softball coach in the NCAA to reach the 1,100-win plateau and the sixth in NCAA Division II.
"This is about players," Kazee-Hollifield said. "As I was walking back for game two, I had a former player come up who has come back to finish up 21 hours. She told me she was finishing up her degree. I don't know how much more emotional it could than that. That's what Carson-Newman is about, and it's why I have been here forever. I love this place."
Carson-Newman played error-free softball through a doubleheader for the first time this season. Every player who played in the doubleheader reached base successfully.
"We got clutch hitting with runners in scoring position, that makes life easier on everyone," Kazee-Hollifield said. "It didn't matter where we were one through nine, everyone contributed.
"We did the little things well. We ran the bases well. Broke up some double plays. That's a big part of this team, that's what this team is doing. I'm encouraged because I still think we can be better too."
In the circle, Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was perfect through 5.1 innings before surrendering her first hit. She struck out a season-high 10 batters. She also went 3-for-6 at the plate with an RBI.
"She had exceptional command of her pitches," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She was throwing hard too. Batters were a bit behind on her. Anytime you have movement and speed, it can be a good day for you."
Abby Fiessinger (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) ripped her fourth home run of the year while extending her hit streak out to 10 games.
GAME ONE: Carson-Newman 7, UVA-Wise 3
The Cavaliers drew first blood in the opening inning. Ava Hockey nipped a bloop double to left and came around to score on a well-stung ball to right from Lucindy Lawson. The first RBI of the season for Lawson put the Cavs up 1-0 after a half inning.
Carson-Newman manufactured a run across in the first. Abby Fiessigner led off the inning with a base hit. Kristen Toppel (Roanoke, Va.) laid down a successful sacrifice bunt a batter later. Fiessinger took second routinely, then realized the Cavs had left third uncovered. Fiesssinger took that bag. A throw to third baseman Samantha Ealy bounced out of her glove and into left, allowing Fiessinger to score an unearned run and tie the game.
UVA-Wise retook the lead in the third. Samantha Ealy and Alexa Hernandez stood on second and third after wild pitches. Shannon Bennett provided the clutch two-out hit with a single through the right side to score both and put the Cavs up 3-1.
Carson-Newman wasted little time in evening the score. Fiessinger ripped a home run off a 1-0 pitch into the pine trees in right with one out. The solo shot was her fourth of the season. Toppel then walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher. She scored easily on a Taylor Scott (Huntington, W.Va.) double to center to tie the game at 3-3.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sarah Barrett (West Hamlin, W.Va.) reached on an error at third to open up the game. Fiessinger and Toppel both got plunked to load the bases. Then Raychel Lapallo nicked Scott with a 2-2 pitch on her hip to bring in a run and five the Eagles a 4-3 lead with no outs.
After an unproductive fielder's choice saw Fiessinger retired at the plate. With the bases loaded still, Katie Pritchett (Ringgold, Ga.) worked bases loaded walk. That set the stage for Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.). The pitcher helped out her own cause with a two-RBI single to right that put the Eagles up 7-3.
Webster snagged her fourth win of the season in the circle. She surrendered five hits and three runs in the win. Webster pinched nine strikeouts against three walks.
Lapallo got hit with the hardluck loss for the Cavaliers. Of the seven runs she surrendered, only three were earned. She allowed six hits with three walks and a strikeout. Lapallo hit four batters.
GAME TWO: Carson-Newman 4, UVA-Wise 0
Carson-Newman got a bizarre run across to open up the scoring in the second. The bases were loaded for Fiessinger. The freshman struck out on a wild pitch that allowed Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) to stride home and give C-N a 1-0 lead. The Eagles couldn't do any further damage with the bases loaded and one out though.
Rinus again helped out her own cause in the third. KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) started the inning by hitting a slow-rolling infield single to short. She moved to second on an Alisa Walker (Knoxville, Tenn.) sacrifice before Rinus blasted a one-out double to the left center gap to score her easily.
Carson-Newman added another run in the fifth. Scott and Cheyenne Boles (Knoxville, Tenn.) gave the Eagles a pair of base runners with one out. Rinus then reached on a fielder's choice as the Cavs tried to turn two. A high throw to first by the shortstop allowed Scott to score an unearned run and extend the lead to 3-0.
Fiessinger and Toppel chipped out the lead further for the Eagles in the sixth. Fiessinger extended her hit streak to 10 games with a triple to center field, then scored when Toppel hit an infield single to the shortstop.
Rinus got the win in the circle to move to 4-1. She only allowed the two hits. Between Saturday's game at King and the start of Tuesday's game with UVA-Wise, Rinus retired 28 consecutive batters.
Taylor Brandts was handed the loss for the Cavaliers. She allowed nine hits and four runs, three of which were earned. She struck out eight and only walked one.
The Eagles are back in action Thursday at Benedict. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
