VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
HICKORY, N.C. – Carson-Newman (26-18, 13-11 SAC) ended its regular season with a pair of losses at Lenoir-Rhyne (31-17, 15-8 SAC), dropping the first contest in a pitcher’s duel before the Bears scored ten unanswered in the nightcap to overcome a seven-run deficit and earn the sweep.
“Pitching didn’t get us beat,” head coach Michael Graves said. “Our offense has been picking and choosing when they want to show up recently, and that’s what got us beat.”
GAME ONE: Lenoir-Rhyne 5, Carson-Newman 2
The game remained scoreless until the second, as C-N’s Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) and LR’s Madison Wilson traded scoreless first innings to open the contest. The Bears were the first to light the lamp in the bottom of the second, as Avery Kiger launched a leadoff solo blast to put the Bears in front.
Lacy did a stellar job limiting the damage, holding the Bears to the lone run in the first. Wilson dealt her third consecutive scoreless frame in the third inning, allowing the Bears to add to the lead in the third, as Lani Warren ripped a two-out single to double the LR lead to two.
Holding the Bears to only one in the fourth left C-N within striking distance, and the answer came in the fourth. Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) reached on a leadoff single, and Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) tied the game with one swing of the bat, mashing her tenth home run of 2025 to even the contest at two.
Lenoir-Rhyne quickly regained the edge in the bottom of the fourth, as Cassidy Wall and Alex Gray ripped back-to-back doubles, trading places to give the Bears a one-run lead.
After a scoreless top half from the C-N offense, Mariyn Waterman entered the circle and held the Bears scoreless, keeping it a one-run contest heading to the sixth. Santana Anderson (Fairmont, N.C.) doubled to lead off the frame and put the tying run in scoring position, but Wilson retired three of the next four Eagles to strand the tying run in scoring position.
LR ripped two singles with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, allowing Katelyn Rackard and Madison Primm to tally back-to-back RBI singles, giving LR a three-run lead and much-needed padding late in the contest.
Despite bringing the tying run to the plate following a one-out error to put runners on first and second, C-N couldn’t strike in the seventh as LR secured the win in the opener.
LR’s Madison Wilson earned her 14th winning decision, dealing seven innings while allowing two runs on six hits and striking out nine Eagles.
Lexi Lacy got her first start for C-N in 2025 and delivered a performance that kept the Eagles in it, tossing four innings while allowing three runs on six hits and striking out two. Mariyn Waterman pitched the final two innings, allowing two runs on five hits, tallying two strikeouts.
GAME TWO: Lenoir-Rhyne 14, Carson-Newman 11
After a scoreless first from both sides, C-N was the first to strike on a wacky play, as Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) skied one to left for what seemed to be a routine fly out, but then deflected off the Bears’ centerfielder, rolling deep into the outfield which allowed Robbins to circle the bases and give C-N its first lead of the day
Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) doubled C-N’s lead with two outs, crushing a solo shot to make it 2-0 after an inning and a half. Despite a pair of singles, Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) dealt a scoreless second inning to keep C-N’s two-run lead intact after two.
C-N went down 1-2-3 in the third, and LR’s offense had an answer in the bottom half. Lani Warren hit a one-out RBI double to cut the deficit in half before Julia Mardigian and Cassidy Wall traded places on back-to-back RBI doubles to put the Bears on top, 3-2. Alex Gray capped off a four-run frame with an RBI single, giving the Bears a two-run lead after three.
The Eagles got some help from the LR defense in the fourth, as Santana Anderson reached on an error and Syerra Rogers walked before an errant throw on a Katey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va.) SAC bunt scored Anderson and Rogers and tied the game at four. Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) gave C-N the lead back on an RBI double before Addie Saunders (Radford, Va.) extended the lead to three with a two-RBI single.
Lorelei Spradlin (Blacksburg, Va.) entered to pitch the fourth and kept the momentum with C-N, retiring the Bears in order. C-N loaded the bases after Katey Mathena walked, Kennady Warder doubled, and Brooklyn Lucero occupied the vacant bag after a free pass. Abbi Martin scored one on an RBI groundout before another LR error on a grounder off the bat of Addie Saunders scored two to grow C-N’s lead to six.
Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) tied Carson-Newman’s career RBI record, tallying the 185th RBI of her career on an RBI single to cap off a four-run inning and extend C-N’s lead to 11-4.
Lenoir-Rhyne started the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff home run from Lani Warren and an Avery Kiger double, giving the LR offense a shot in the arm. Cassidy Wall cut the deficit to five on an RBI single. The Bears scored one more on a Kaylee Chapman RBI single and loaded the bases with two outs, down four.
LRs Madison Primm sent a long fly ball deep to center, and despite a leaping attempt from Abbi Martin, the ball ricocheted off her glove and over the wall, tying the game in the fifth after a seven-run surge from the Bears.
Madison Wilson entered in the sixth and retired C-N in order. LR ripped consecutive singles to put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom half, and Alex Gray put the Bears ahead with a two-RBI double. Kaylee Chapman reached on an error with two outs in the frame as another came into score, extending the LR lead to three after six.
Abbi Martin reached on a one-out double and Addie Saunders walked to bring the tying run to the plate, but Wilson retired the next two Eagles to end the contest.
Faith Carrigan dealt four innings in the nightcap, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out eight Eagles. Alissa Russ pitched an inning, allowing two hits and an earned run. Madison Wilson is credited with the win, pitching two innings while allowing one hit and striking out one.
Syerra Rogers started in game two, dealing three innings of four-run ball on seven hits, striking out two Bears. Lorelei Spradlin pitched the next two innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. Lexi Lacy is dealt the loss, allowing two earned runs on three hits in an inning of work.
Carson-Newman’s SAC tournament opening round destination has yet to be decided, but the possibility of hosting is still on the table. The Eagles are currently tied for fourth in the SAC standings, with Emory & Henry (12-10 SAC) and Mars Hill (11-11 SAC) playing doubleheaders tomorrow.
C-N owns the tiebreaker with Tusculum (13-11 SAC), but the Mountain Lions and Wasps hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles with doubleheader sweeps earlier this season.
For updates on the 2025 Carson-Newman softball postseason, visit cneagles.com and follow us on social media @cn_eagles.