2018 Carson-Newman Softball News

Season
O’Brien names Pope new Vice President for Athletics
O’Brien names Pope new Vice President for Athletics

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman University President Dr. Randall O’Brien has named Tennessee Tech Associate Director of Athletics for Development Matt Pope as Carson-Newman’s new Vice President for Athletics.

Record-setting number of student athletes named to SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll
Record-setting number of student athletes named to SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Carson-Newman broke its school record for most student athletes placed on the South Atlantic Conference's Commissioner's Honor Roll, the league office announced Thursday morning.

Graves hires Toppel as assistant coach
Graves hires Toppel as assistant coach

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves has announced the hiring of former All-SAC shortstop and C-N softball alumna Kristen Toppel as the program’s new assistant coach.

Athletic Department registers highest finish in Learfield Director's Cup
Athletic Department registers highest finish in Learfield Director's Cup

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Carson-Newman's athletic department concluded the academic year with its highest ever finish in the Learfield Director's Cup standings.  C-N wrapped up 2017-18 with a top-25 finish and a school-record 498 points in the annual standings. 

Strudwick assumes roll of Senior Women's Administrator
Strudwick assumes roll of Senior Women's Administrator

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Allen Morgan has announced that head women's golf coach Suzanne Strudwick has assumed the duties of the athletic department's Senior Women's Administrator.

Athletic Communications team hauls in four awards in CoSIDA Publications and Digital Design Contest
Athletic Communications team hauls in four awards in CoSIDA Publications and Digital Design Contest

GREENWOOD, Ind. - Carson-Newman's athletic communications team tallied four awards at the College Sports Information Directors of America's (CoSIDA) Publications and Digital Design Contest. 

Rinus nets third All-America honor
Rinus nets third All-America honor

CULVER CITY, Calif. - Carson-Newman sophomore pitcher Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) roped in her third All-America honor of the 2018 postseason Monday afternoon.

Another day, another All-America honor for Rinus
Another day, another All-America honor for Rinus

SALEM, Va. - A day after being selected to the D2CCA All-America team, Carson-Newman sophomore pitcher Lacie Rinus has earned a spot on the NFCA All-America third team as a utility/pitcher, the organization announced Thursday. 

Rinus goes back-to-back as D2CCA All-American
Rinus goes back-to-back as D2CCA All-American

ROLLA, Mo. - For a second consecutive year, Carson-Newman pitcher Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) has earned All-American honors from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.

Long named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach
Long named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach

FORT WORTH, Texas - Carson-Newman Director of Sports Performance Johnny Long has been named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa) in a ceremony at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

Rinus, Fiessinger add to postseason accolades
Rinus, Fiessinger add to postseason accolades

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - For the second time in a week, Carson-Newman softball sophomores Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) have made an all-region team. 

Big Young Harris fourth inning knocks C-N into loser’s bracket
Big Young Harris fourth inning knocks C-N into loser’s bracket

HICKORY, N.C. – Seventh-seeded Young Harris (34-18) used a four-run fourth inning and some timely big hits late to down sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (33-20) 7-1 Friday afternoon at Bears Field in the Southeast Regional. 

No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne run-rules Carson-Newman out of the Southeast Regional 
No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne run-rules Carson-Newman out of the Southeast Regional 

HICKORY, N.C. – No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne (44-9) used a highly efficient offense that rapped out double-digit hits to oust sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (33-21) from the NCAA regional in run-rule fashion 17-0 late Friday night at Bears Field. 

Crawford’s bolt helps C-N into winner’s bracket, Eagles down No. 20 Bobcats 2-1
Crawford’s bolt helps C-N into winner’s bracket, Eagles down No. 20 Bobcats 2-1

HICKORY, N.C. –   Sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (33-19) got a pivotal, late-inning, pinch-hit knock and rode quality pitching to weather third-seeded and 20th-ranked Georgia College (36-15) plus a lengthy rain delay for a 2-1 win Thursday evening in the Southeast Regional at Bears Field. 

Eagles open up regional play against third-seeded, 20th-ranked Georgia College
Eagles open up regional play against third-seeded, 20th-ranked Georgia College

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Sixth-seeded Carson-Newman (32-19) gets rolling in the 2018 NCAA Softball Southeast Regional against a familiar face Thursday at 2 p.m. at Bears Field in Hickory, N.C.

Rinus, Fiessinger slotted on NFCA All-Region First Team
Rinus, Fiessinger slotted on NFCA All-Region First Team

LOUISVILLE – Carson-Newman’s Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) both raked in postseason laurels Wednesday afternoon.