VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
VIDEO: Syerra Rogers Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (1-0) opened its 2025 season with a bang on Saturday afternoon, taking down Kentucky State (1-1) in five innings, 8-0.
A handful of impressive performances led the Eagles, highlighted by Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) striking out eight of the ten hitters she faced, pitching a flawless three innings of work.
"I was just focusing on one pitch at a time," Rogers said. "Not stressing myself out no matter what it was that coach Holly [Tucker-Vance] called today."
Rogers lived in the zone throughout her 2025 debut, tossing 55 pitches and finding the strike zone on 38 of them. She also kept the Thorobreds out of the hit column while dealing no free passes.
"I'm thrilled with Syerra's effort today," head coach Michael Graves said. "No walks, no hits, eight strikeouts… That was huge. Hopefully, she can build on that, keep her confidence up, and keep throwing strikes for us… Our pitching was great today."
Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) relieved Rogers after three innings of work, pitching the final two innings, allowing just one hit across six batters faced.
Offensively, the Eagles started the day hot. SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) reintroduced herself to the C-N faithful with a double in the left-center gap in her first at-bat since returning from injury.
The Eagles eventually loaded the bases with two outs. Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) helped C-N crack the scoresheet for the first time in 2025 with a bases-clearing triple to give the Eagles a three-run advantage after one.
C-N matched its run total in the second, as Trinity Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) walked before Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) singled down the leftfield line. SieAnna Cameron produced another productive at-bat, scoring Brooks on an RBI groundout. With Robbins in scoring position, Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) roped a two-RBI to extend the C-N lead to six.
The Eagles were held at bay for the next two innings by Kentucky State's Kayla West, who tossed all 98 pitches for the Thorobreds.
C-N's offense reignited in the 5th, using three consecutive hits to load the bases. Limestone transfer Santana Anderson (Fairmont, N.C.) crushed a single for her first hit in an Eagle uniform before Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) earned her first knock of the season on a hard-hit double and Bailee Worley (Black Mountain, N.C.) reached on an infield single.
In a pinch-hitting situation, freshman Addie Saunders (Radford, Va.) drew a catcher's interference to score one before Wynter Morris (Crozet, Va.) walked it off in run-rule fashion on a pinch-hit bases-clearing single.
After a solid 2025 debut for C-N, Graves is impressed by the instant impact of his players returning from injury.
"SieAnna [Cameron] is huge for us," Graves said. "She has been a premier leadoff hitter, not only in our conference but in the country. Getting that caliber of bat at the top of our lineup is huge… Mari [Robbins] is so fast. I don't think there is a faster player in the conference… Getting that kid on base is big. It sets the table, and she is capable of stealing a couple of bases when she gets on."
C-N will take on a hungry Concord team tomorrow, coming off a tough loss to Kentucky State after leading 4-0 in the seventh. Playing against a team in Concord who stole 68 bags a year ago and is anxious for a win, Graves knows what it will take to weather the storm.
"Hopefully, my pitchers keep them off the bases," Graves said. "It's hard to steal a base when you're not on base. Hopefully, we handle that and don't have to worry about it."
The Eagles and the Mountain Lions wrap up the Eagle Invitational on Sunday, kicking off a doubleheader at 10:30 a.m. at The Vick.
