Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne To Play In Championship Of Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament

WINGATE, N.C. -- The seventh-ranked Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University notched their second win of the day Saturday afternoon, knocking off fourth-seeded Mars Hill College 4-1 in the final game on day three of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Tournament. The Bears improve to 48-7 overall, and will take on Carson-Newman Sunday at 1 p.m. Mars Hill falls to 28-16 on the season.

Freshman infielder Jessica Fellmeth (Waxhaw, N.C.) was one-for-three with two RBI to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne attack. Junior outfielder Heather Brock (Yadkinville, N.C.) added a pair of hits and a run scored for the Bears, while senior outfielder Brittany Cherry (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) had a double and an RBI for LRU.

Sophomore infielder Natalie Haithcox (Asheboro, N.C.) was three-for-three with two doubles and an RBI to spark the Mars Hill offense. Junior catcher Jade Bullins (Danbury, N.C.) was two-for-three, while sophomore infielder Kendra Reeder (Duncan, S.C.) was one-for-one with a double off the MHC bench.

The Lions struck first, plating a run in the top of the first inning. Senior infielder Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.) reached on an error to start the game, went to second on a wild pitch, then scored on an RBI double from Haithcox to make it 1-0.

The Bears answered with three runs in the third. Junior infielder Kat Rivers (Royston, Ga.) drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at one. Fellmeth followed with a two-run single to make it 3-1. Fellmeth had six RBI in Lenoir-Rhyne's victory over Wingate Saturday morning, and eight total in the two games on Saturday.

LRU added one more run in the fourth on an RBI double from Cherry, making it 4-1.

That would be enough for sophomore right-hander Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn.). She allowed one unearned run on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, striking out three to improve to 20-3 on the season. Freshman right-hander Alex Smith (Cocoa, Fla.) recorded the final two outs of the game to notch her second save of the season. Mars Hill junior right-hander Tara West (Urbana, Ohio) took the loss, falling to 14-8. She allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work, while striking out six and walking four.

The top-seeded Bears advance to the championship round on Sunday to take on the second-seeded Eagles. Carson-Newman is 3-0 in the tournament, and Lenoir-Rhyne would have to beat the Eagles twice on Sunday to win the title.

Mars Hill head coach David Williams:
"It is disappointing to lose one ball game in extra innings…and lose another when we outhit the other team."

"Overall, we played with heart and enthusiasm. Hopefully, we have done enough to get a bid to the regionals."

Lenoir-Rhyne pitcher Dawon Millwood:
"I was trying to make my pitches work…I wanted to be consistent in the circle. Our hitters did a great job giving me a lead. We want to maintain our focus…and try hard to get up early in the game."

Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Shena Hollar:
"We don't let little things get us down. As we have progressed through the season…not too much bothers us. I would say we are a blue-collar team…we go about our business and try to get the job done."

"We shuffled our line-up for the Mars Hill game. I think the new look worked for us. Hopefully, we will stay hot as we enter Sunday. I know we will play hard and give our best effort."

Carson-Newman 5, Mars Hill 4

WINGATE, N.C. -- Carson-Newman College sophomore pitcher Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) delivered an RBI single to plate the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping the number 22 Eagles take a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Mars Hill College in the winners' bracket final of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference softball tournament.

Shealy hit the first pitch she saw to right field, scoring sophomore pinch-runner Ashlee Dillard (Roanoke, Va.) with the winning run for Carson-Newman (36-8 overall). Shealy also picked up the pitching win, improving her record to 15-4 overall on the season. The Eagles will face the Mars Hill versus Lenoir-Rhyne winner in Sunday's 1 p.m. championship game. Mars Hill falls to 28-15 overall with the loss.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Eagle senior first baseman Sara Little (Calhoun, Ga.) walked. Junior utility player Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.) followed with a double to left center, moving Little to third. At this point, Dillard entered the game to run for Little. Shealy delivered with her first hit of the game to give the Eagles the victory.

Carson-Newman tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Little singled up the middle. Sophomore Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) reported to run for Little. Boyd singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Eagle junior Amber Hewitt (Ringgold, Ga.) entered to run for Boyd.

Shealy was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mars Hill changed its battery at this point, as freshman reliever Taylor Morris (Weddington, N.C.) and junior catcher Jade Bullins (Danbury, N.C.) replaced senior right-hander Tiffany Farthing (Kure Beach, N.C.) and sophomore catcher Kendra Reeder (Duncan, S.C.), respectively. Carson-Newman junior third baseman Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) reached on an error, scoring Whaley and Hewitt to tie the game at 4-4.

The Lions scored a single run in the top of the sixth inning to pad their advantage to 4-2. Senior outfielder Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) singled to start the sixth stanza. MHC freshman shortstop Amanda McArthur (Charlotte, N.C.) followed with an RBI double to left field to score James.

Mars Hill built a 3-2 lead with three runs in the top of the fourth frame. Senior second baseman Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.), senior outfielder Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and junior first baseman Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) started the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases.

Lion sophomore outfielder Natalie Haithcox (Asheboro, N.C.) plated Mars Hill's first run with an RBI groundout to score Huff. James added an RBI single up the middle to score Angell and move Seawell to third base. James moved to second on a ground out. Morris followed with an RBI single to score Seawell. The rally ended when Carson-Newman junior center fielder Whitney Durham (Rossville, Ga.) threw out James at home for the third out.

Carson-Newman took the early 2-0 lead with two runs on two outs in the first inning. Shoemake earned a four-pitch walk. Little hit her team-best eighth home run of the season over the right-field fence to give the Eagles the early edge.

Boyd had three hits for Carson-Newman, including her ninth double of the season. Little was two-for-three with two RBI and a game-high 13 put outs. Huff, Angell and James had two hits each for Mars Hill. James was one of four Lions with one RBI in the loss.

In two stints, Shealy pitched 6 2/3 innings. She allowed four earned runs on nine hits. She struck out three and walked one. Boyd contributed 1 1/3 innings in the circle. She did not allow a hit or a run. Morris (2-3 overall) took the tough loss, giving up one run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Farthing started the contest for the Lions, surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. She struck out five and walked one.

Carson-Newman College head coach Vickee Hollifield
Opening comments:
"We try to stay cool and calm in every situation. We have been involved in many pressure-packed circumstances this year. We work hard all season long to deal with these situations."

On Carson-Newman pitchers Mary Shealy and Ashley Boyd:
"We tell our pitchers to attack from the mound. Early in the game, we were allowing Mars Hill to attack us (from the batter's box). Bringing Mary back when we did was the best move for us. Mary and Ashley compliment each other so well."

Carson-Newman senior shortstop Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Opening comments:
"We keep playing hard…we know the game is not over until it is over. We are hitting with confidence right now. If one player is not hitting, we know the next player will pick up her. We believe in each other."

Regarding Carson-Newman's pitching combo of Shealy and Boyd:
"We have two very athletic pitchers. They are a huge asset to our team. They work well together, both in practice and in the games."

Regarding championship Sunday:
"People are saying our team is a tournament team…I hope this is true. On Sunday, we are going to play with everything we have. It would be a great way to end my senior year with another title."

Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Wingate 4

WINGATE, N.C. -- Lenoir-Rhyne University freshman infielder Jessica Fellmeth (Waxhaw, N.C.) had two homers and six RBI, including the go-ahead grand slam in the fifth inning as the seventh-ranked Bears defeated Wingate University 7-4 in the first game on day three of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Tournament Saturday morning. LRU improves to 47-7 overall and will play Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs fall to 35-15 and are eliminated from the tournament.

Fellmeth was two-for-four on the day, with a two-run homer along with the grand slam. Sophomore catcher Sarah Atkins (Newport News, Va.) was two-for-two with a run scored. Senior designated player Ashley Duckworth (Conover, N.C.) was one-for-four with two runs scored.

Sophomore outfielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) was one-for-two with a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Bowen (Matthews, N.C.) came off the bench to go two-for-two with an RBI, while senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) was one-for-three with a run scored.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead, getting a two-run homer from Chavis in the first. The round-tripper was her eighth of the season. The Bears would tie the game in the fourth on a two-run blast to center from Fellmeth.

Wingate answered with a run in the fourth to regain the lead. Grijalva walked to lead off the inning, went to second on a sacrifice, then scored on an LRU error to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 edge. LRU plated five runs in the fifth to take the lead. The first run would score when Rivers reached on a Wingate error in the outfield, scoring senior outfielder Brittany Cherry (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) to tie the contest at three. The Bears then loaded the bases for Fellmeth, who blasted her eighth homer of the season to right. The grand slam made the score 7-3. The Bears have scored 16 of their 20 runs in the 2010 tournament in the fifth inning. Wingate added one run in the seventh on an RBI single from Bowen for the final 7-4 deficit.

Freshman right-hander Alex Smith (Cocoa, Fla.) got the win, moving to 21-4 overall on the season. She allowed three earned runs on five hits in seven innings of work, while striking out seven.

Junior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) took the loss, falling to 16-7 overall on the season. She allowed four runs on five hits in three innings, striking out four.

The Bears will return to action at 4 p.m. Saturday, taking on the loser of the Carson-Newman College vs. Mars Hill College game at 1:30 p.m.

Wingate University head coach Michelle Caddigan
When asked about momentum shifts during LRU game:
"This has been the story of our season…nothing comes easy for us. You must give Lenoir-Rhyne credit. They swung the bat (today) and took advantage of every opportunity.

When asked about her team's season:
"I have to give our players credit…they fight and never give up until the last out. I am so proud of how hard they have worked.
There have fought hard all season. Their determination is admirable."

Lenoir-Rhyne University freshman 1b/OF Jessica Fellmeth
When asked about her second at-bat (and first home run):
"I was looking for an inside pitch…and I got a good look."

When asked about her performance:
"Today was fun. I want to get a good swing (each at-bat). I want to make contact and put the ball in play. I want to play hard and give all I have."

Lenoir-Rhyne University head coach Shena Hollar
When asked about her team's performance:
"I am proud of the way we battled today. We did the small things well. Our team is developing confidence. We told them last night…we must play two doubleheaders…win two Saturday, win two Sunday…and we've been doing this all year."

When asked about her team's production in the fifth inning during the Food Lion SAC tournament (16 of team's 20 runs have been scored in the fifth):
"I can't explain it. I guess we cycle back through the line-up by the fifth inning. I hope it continues."