COLUMBUS, Ga.— Held at bay by two impressive pitching efforts, Carson-Newman (9-7) dropped a pair of contests to Columbus State (11-1) on Sunday afternoon, mustering just two runs of offense against the Cougar arms.
"Our effort and mindset need to be better," head coach Michael Graves said. "Game two was a lot better, but we don't have the liberty to pick and choose which games we get up for."
GAME ONE: Columbus State 8, C-N 1
After a scoreless top of the first, Columbus State opened the scoring in the bottom half on a two-run home run from Nova Wright, but Riley Sikes (Powell, Tenn.) retired three of the next four to limit the damage to two in the first inning.
C-N cut into the lead in the second, as Kennady Warder (Harrodsburg, Ky.) squeaked one through the middle for a two-out RBI single, scoring Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) from second base to make it a one-run game.
Columbus State pushed the lead back to two on a Kara Wegeinka RBI single, but Sikes retired the next three Cougars to bring the C-N offense to the plate down two in the third.
The Eagles got another two-out baserunner in the third on a Brooklyn Lucero (Loma, Colo.) single, but a strikeout ended the frame.
In the home half of the third, the Cougars added one on an RBI single, giving Columbus State its largest lead of the day, making it a 4-1 game after four.
Columbus State broke it open in the fourth after another scoreless frame in the circle from Julianna Franklin as Anna Waites mashed the second two-run home run of the day, extending the CSU lead to five.
The Cougars would approach run-rule territory in the fifth, scoring a pair on a solo home run and an RBI single, but Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) prevented any further damage in the fifth and the sixth, giving C-N a chance in the seventh.
Needing seven in the seventh and final frame, C-N went down 1-2-3 at the top of the seventh, as Columbus State earned its 10th win. The Cougars didn't have an inning where they scored more than two, but they scored in five of the six frames in the day's first game.
Riley Sikes is credited with the loss for the Eagles, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work. Lexi Lacy limited the CSU offense to two runs on three hits through 2.1 innings, but the hot start was enough for the Cougars in game one.
Julianna Franklin kept her unblemished record, moving to 7-0 on the season with a complete game effort. C-N tallied eight hits off of the lefty, but the Eagles stranded nine runners aboard.
GAME TWO: Columbus State 1, C-N 0
Despite offensive fireworks from the Cougars in game one, it was a pitcher's duel from the jump in the nightcap between CSU's Lily Miller and C-N's Lorelei Spradlin (Blacksburg, Va.) as the two freshmen went toe-to-toe.
SieAnna Cameron (Alcoa, Tenn.) led the game with a single in the first, but a strikeout and a double play ended the threat. Spradlin started her afternoon with a 1-2-3 first inning featuring two strikeouts.
C-N went down 1-2-3 in the second inning before the Cougars' Holly Lynn mashed a solo home run to give Columbus State the lead in the second inning. Spradlin responded well, retiring the next two Cougars to send C-N's offense back to the dish in the third.
Spradlin and Miller traded 1-2-3 frames in the third and fourth innings as Columbus State retained the one-run lead after four.
C-N's best chance of the day came in the top of the fifth. Santana Anderson (Fairmont, N.C.) ripped a double before Mari Robbins worked a walk, and Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) poked an infield single to load the bases with one. However, Kennady Warder and Wynter Morris (Crozet, Va.) worked lengthy at-bats, but they both ended in strikeouts as Miller tight-roped her way through the fifth.
Spradlin did her job again in the fifth and sixth, continuing an excellent outing with back-to-back scoreless frames, allowing C-N to step to the plate in the seventh down just one.
The final frame started well for C-N as Santana Anderson notched her second hit of the game with a leadoff single. However, as was the trend through the two games in Columbus, the momentum did not last. A double play and a strikeout ended the pitcher's duel, with Columbus State securing the sweep.
Lorelei Spradlin was dealt her second loss of the season despite a dazzling six innings of work. The freshman set down six Cougars on strikes while allowing just two hits, with the one long ball being the difference in the final tally. It's the second start in a row that Spradlin did not allow any free passes.
Unfortunately for C-N, Spradlin's efforts were matched by CSU's freshman Lily Miller. Miller tossed the Cougars' second complete game of the day, striking out seven while allowing five hits, keeping the Eagles off the board despite a handful of opportunistic scenarios.
C-N looks to regroup after a tough day offensively, heading to Rome, Georgia, to face off with the Shorter Hawks in a Monday doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.
The games will be available on the Conference Carolinas Digital Network with live stats at cneagles.com/livestats.
For updates throughout the 2025 Carson-Newman softball season, visit cneagles.com and follow us on social media @cn_eagles.
