Graves collects 200th career win as freshmen debuts headline C-N in 2-0 start in Johnson City
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The new crop of freshmen for Carson-Newman softball lived up to the expectations, delivering clutch plays in big moments. The Eagles improved to 2-0 behind a pair of one-run victories over Glenville State, 2-1, and Concord, 6-5. It was also a milestone day for head coach Michael Graves.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The new crop of freshmen for Carson-Newman softball lived up to the expectations, delivering clutch plays in big moments. The Eagles improved to 2-0 behind a pair of one-run victories over Glenville State, 2-1, and Concord, 6-5. It was also a milestone day for head coach Michael Graves.
With the win, C-N is now 36-3 all-time in season openers.
Following the win over Concord, Graves opened his eighth season by notching his 200th career win at Carson-Newman.
"I thought we had some great efforts in the circle today, it's nice to see all the hard work that girls have put in with Coach Holly [Tucker-Vance] pay dividends," Graves said. "Defense played outstanding all day. We had some good at-bats at times, but I think our offense still has a way to go to get where we expect it to be and what we have grown accustomed to having here at Carson-Newman."
He was especially impressed by the performances of his younger players today.
"Our freshman did not disappoint on opening day," Graves said. "They are going to be really fun to watch over the next four years."
Carson-Newman 2, Glenville State 1
The Eagles wasted no time getting ahead, kickstarting the 2026 season with back-to-back base hits from freshmen Malyiah Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Reese Winchester (San Diego, Calif.). After Smith swiped second base, Winchester shot one into right field to make it 1-0.
C-N threatened for more in the third, loading the bases with one out, following an Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.), a Winchester walk and a Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) single. However, it would be unable to add on any insurance runs.
Glenville State did the same in the home half of the third, but Lorelei Spradlin (Blacksburg, Va.) buckled in and forced a lineout and ground out to escape trouble.
The Pioneers found the tying run in the fifth inning. Lillian Burns worked a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position on a ground ball and was driven in by Shelby McDaniels, 1-1. That was the last at-bat for Spradlin, being replaced by Riley Spikes (Powell, Tenn.).
Spradlin finished with 4.1 innings, surrendering the lone run on five hits with a strikeout and two walks. Spikes navigated the inherited trouble, picking up a big assist from Shelby Armstrong (Knoxville, Tenn.), throwing out McDaniels at the plate.
In the top of the seventh, Addie Saunders (Radford, Va.) began the inning with a leadoff walk. After Saunders advanced to second, Smith came up in a big spot and the savvy freshman delivered with a base hit to center, driving in Saunders, 2-1.
Sikes slammed the door shut in the bottom half, with a 1-2-3 inning, giving the Eagles their first win in 2026. The senior allowed just two hits across her 2.2 innings of work, notching one strikeout.
Smith headlined the offense, going 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI in her debut. Meanwhile, Saunders reached base every time she came up, recording a base hit and a pair of walks.
Carson-Newman 6, Concord 5
The second game of the day handed the ball to Atiana Stamper (Knoxville, Tenn.) to make her first career start. Although you wouldn't have thought it with how she set the tone early, picking up six strikeouts through the first two innings, allowing just one base runner on a dropped third passed ball.
C-N once again struck first, this time in the second inning. Kathey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va.) led off with a base hit, followed by Saunders, who was thrown out at second trying to take advantage on the throw, pushing Mathena to third. As Martin delivered with a base hit up the middle, 1-0.
Concord quickly responded, tying the game in the third on a sacrifice fly from Blake Jamerson to score Kristy McCord, 1-1.
In the fourth, the Eagles put up their first crooked number of the season, plating four runs. It was déjà vu as Martin found a gap up the middle to drive in Mathena, who led off with a double. Winchester then found her second RBI of the day with a base hit to left center, scoring Martin. The big hit came from Grace Gregory (White House, Tenn.), roping a triple down the right field line, scoring Winchester and Bailey, 5-1.
Following her ninth strikeout of the night, Stamper was replaced by Emma Romeka in the top of the fifth. C-N tacked on another insurance run, which would prove to be a difference maker, on an Armstrong base hit to score Sarah Walker, 6-1.
Down to its final out, Concord erupted with a two-out rally. Morgan Gleason had a base hit to score Lacie Lewis, followed by a McCord single scoring Gleason. Then Grace Dodson doubled to center and drove in another two runs, 6-5.
Which prompted Graves to put Stamper back in the circle, looking for one more out. It would not come easily as the Mountain Lions worked back-to-back walks to load the bases, before Stamper forced Alina Giles to fly out to put a bow on it.
Stamper finished with nine strikeouts across five innings of work, allowing just one run on one hit. Romeka surrendered four runs on five hits in her two frames in the circle.
Offensively, Winchester went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Mathena doubled her season total in hits from a year ago, going 2-for-3 with 2 runs. Martin (2-for-2) and Gregory (1-for-4) both recorded two RBIs.
Tomorrow, Carson-Newman will face Davis & Elkins, followed quickly by a meeting with Converse, slated for noon. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. from the James K. Ellis Softball Complex at Winged Deer Park against Davis & Elkins. The game can be heard on cneagles.com/live. Fans can also watch the radio crew at work via a press row feed on YouTube.
