Carson-Newman Softball Position Previews: Infield
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – As the start of a new season quickly approaching, we continue our preview of the 2025 Carson-Newman softball team with a look into the Eagle infield with help from junior Macauley Bailey.
VIDEO: Macauley Bailey Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – As the start of a new season quickly approaching, we continue our preview of the 2025 Carson-Newman softball team with a look into the Eagle infield with help from junior Macauley Bailey.
Bailey has become a household name in the South Atlantic Conference over her first two season, becoming one of the conference's most feared hitters. The Cross Plains native hit .387 last season, crushing 15 home runs. She became the only player in program history to mash 15 home runs in consecutive seasons. She was the SAC's top run producer, plating 61 on the season, leading to a second team All-SAC selection. Defensively, Bailey will spend time behind the dish while also making an impact at the hot corner, looking to fill the void after Brooke Matyasovsky departed following a stellar senior season.
"I've got to keep the same mentality," Bailey said. "Swinging at strikes, which is something coach Graves has really been harping on for me this season… Honestly, staying aggressive because you have to be able to differentiate balls and strikes, but you also have to keep that aggressive mentality. Working late nights in the cages is something I did my freshman year, and it is something I am doing this year."
At the opposite corner of the infield, Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) nabbed her first preseason All-SAC selection, earning second team preseason all-conference honors at first base. The NC State transfer started 40 games last season and hit .333 with an on-base percentage of .422. Overcoming a slow start, Lucero was a tough out throughout the middle of the season and into the backend. During the final stretch of the season, Lucero hit successfully in 12 of the final 13 games leading into the conference tournament. The senior excelled in conference play, hitting .368.
Lucero also produced at a high level defensively with a .957 fielding percentage, recording 43 putouts and only two errors throughout the season.
"Defensively, we provide a lot of range," Bailey said. "Brooklyn is one of the taller players on our team and having that at first base is really nice, especially with some scary throws."
In the middle infield, C-N has the benefit of an experienced duo in Abbi Martin at second base and preseason All-SAC first teamer Hayden Dye at shortstop.
Starting 49 games in the outfield last season, Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) will see extended time at second base in 2025. In her sophomore season, Martin hit .303 and had an on-base percentage of .401, knocking a team-best three triples. Her speed also played a role on the basepaths, leading the Eagles in stolen bases with 17. Defensively, Martin was stellar, recording a .979 fielding percentage with 89 putouts and four outfield assists.
"Abbi is super fast," Bailey said. "She is an athlete. She will dive after balls and she will make the plays that others wouldn't make."
The other piece of the C-N middle infield is senior Hayden Dye (Knoxville, Tenn.), who earned preseason first team All-SAC honors following a first team selection at the end of last season. Dye swung a hot stick in the 2024 season, posting a .409 average, good for sixth in the conference. She was also fourth in the league with 57 RBIs. In the infield, Dye was a consistent presence for C-N with a .934 fielding percentage and 71 putouts.
"Hayden has a great range of motion," Bailey said. "She is great at making tough throws on the run."
C-N will plug and play different players in the infield, with sophomore Wynter Morris (Crozet, Va.) spending some time at first and third base and Limestone transfer Santana Anderson (Fairmont, N.C.) doing the same when she isn't in the outfield.
Morris split time between DP, first, and third in 25 games, 18 of which being starts. The Crozet native hit .255 with two doubles, a triple, and a home run. Anderson, joining the Eagles after two successful seasons at Limestone, will be included in Wednesday's outfield preview but will also help out C-N in the infield.
A pair of newcomers will play some in the infield for C-N. Freshmen Addie Saunders (Radford, Va.) and Katey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va.) will look to make an impact in their first seasons in Mossy Creek.
After a productive fall spending some time at second base, the Radford native will see some time in the infield. Saunders was impressive in her time at Radford High School, hitting.527 with a .628 on-base percentage, leading to three seasons of all-district and all-region honors.
Recovering from an injury, the Eagles hope Mathena can recover and play a role in her freshman campaign. She was a productive bat in her time at Blacksburg High School, hitting .350 with an on-base percentage of .450. In 2023, Mathena helped the Bruins to a River Ridge District Championship.
We will conclude the 2025 Carson-Newman softball position previews on Wednesday, as we take a deep dive into the Carson-Newman outfield with the help of SieAnna Cameron.
