JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (24-14, 11-7 SAC) will look to rebound after a midweek doubleheader split, hosting Coker (11-23, 4-12 SAC) for a Senior Day twin bill at The Vick, starting at 11 a.m.
The Eagles concluded the opener against Catawba in under an hour and 15 minutes, snapping the single-season home run record on a Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) solo blast in the second inning. Rogers also delivered in the circle, delivering five one-hit innings and holding a hard-hitting Catawba offense at bay.
The Indians’ offense got going in game two, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. The Eagles showed life on a Rogers grand slam, eventually tying the game in the seventh on a Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) solo shot. However, Catawba prevailed in extras, scoring two before C-N went quietly in the bottom half.
Despite the game two loss, C-N’s four home runs brought the season tally to 61, which is second in the country behind No. 3 West Texas A&M (62).
C-N will honor Hayden Dye (Knoxville, Tenn.), Syerra Rogers, Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.), Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.), Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.), Mariyn Waterman (Oakdale, Calif.), and Ally Goodwin (Chattanooga, Tenn.) between games on Saturday.
Dye has become one of Carson-Newman’s most decorated hitters in her time in Mossy Creek, mashing the seventh-most home runs all-time (27). The Knoxville native also ranks fifth all-time in RBIs (163). Dye’s batting average (.457) would rank ninth all-time if the season ended today.
Rogers has had a stellar career in the circle. She ranks eighth all-time with 364 career strikeouts, and her 2025 ERA (3.75) is the lowest in her career. The 12 winning decisions this season are the most she has had in her career. The Graysville native has also played a significant role in the C-N offense, hitting nine home runs with 24 RBIs, both career-highs.
Robbins has come on as a home run threat in 2025 after missing the entirety of the 2024 season due to injury. The Sweetwater native has 11 home runs after hitting only two in 2023, becoming one of C-N’s most prolific home run hitters in her senior season. Her batting average (.356) is a career-best while playing 35 games, the most she’s played in a season in her time at C-N.
Lucero has been a mainstay in the middle of the order for C-N since transferring from NC State. The Loma, Colo. native earned preseason All-SAC honors after hitting .333 in 2024 and .368 in conference play. Lucero has mashed five home runs this season and has 25 RBIs while hitting .317 for the Eagles.
Lacy, a Hawai’i Hilo transfer, has spent her final two seasons with Carson-Newman. The lefty has dealt 33.1 innings for C-N, posting a 7.35 ERA in 21 appearances.
Waterman, a North Alabama transfer, has made six appearances in relief for C-N in her lone season with the Eagles. She has a 5.48 ERA in 7.2 innings. Goodwin has yet to appear in 2025 but had a hit in two at-bats in her last appearance against Wheeling in 2024.
The Eagles will look to deliver on Senior Day against a Coker team with its fair share of struggles in 2025. The Cobras dropped their first eight South Atlantic Conference contests, but since then, Coker earned a split against Lenoir-Rhyne, swept Emory & Henry, and split with UVA Wise.
The Cobras rank 11th in team batting average (.290) and 12th in team ERA (6.23). Coker is led offensively by Madie Andrews and Bailee Gaskins. Andrews leads the Cobras in batting average (.337) and is second in RBI (17). Gaskins is the leading RBI threat for Coker, scoring 25 through 34 games while holding a .303 batting average.
In the circle, four arms have dealt over 30 innings for Coker. In addition to what they do in the batter’s box, Andrews and Gaskins have also been the top arms for the Cobras in 2025. Andrews holds a 5-10 record and a 5-10 record through 80 innings, while Gaskins has posted a 2-8 record and a 6.92 ERA in 55.2 innings. Cheyenne Palmer and Brooklyn Lovin have been the other two heavily used arms for Coker, notching over 30 innings of work.
C-N and Coker will meet for the 36th time on Saturday. The Eagles have won the last nine matchups and lead the all-time series 22-13.
In 2024, the Eagles scored 27 runs in two games against the Cobras, 18 of which came in an 18-11 win in game two. Coker jumped out to a five-run lead before a Macauley Bailey two-run home run and a Hayden Dye grand slam helped C-N climb back in front. Coker would retake the lead late, but a two-RBI double from Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) and another multi-RBI knock from Dye helped C-N pull away.
The Eagles and the Cobras will square off at 11 a.m. on Saturday for game one, with a Senior Day ceremony before game two.
The twin bill will be available on FloSports ($) with an audio-only stream at cneagles.com/live.
For updates throughout the Carson-Newman softball season, visit cneagles.com and follow us on social media @cn_eagles.