Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba Advance To Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament Championship

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Third-seeded Catawba College held off a late rally by second-seeded Carson-Newman to claim a 4-3 victory on Friday in the loser's bracket final of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex.

With the win, the Indians (32-19) advance to the finals and will face top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at 1 p.m. If Catawba wins the first game, the teams would play a second game at 3:30 p.m. for the title. Carson-Newman concludes its season at 39-15-1.

Catawba struck early with a pair of runs in the first. Carly Sabat (Warren, Ohio) and Amanda Terry (Cordova, N.C.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, sophomore Tara Gibbs (Waynesville, N.C.) lined a single through the right side to drive in both runners and give the Indians a 2-0 lead.

C-N pulled to within a run in the third. Dariayn Wright (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) singled to lead things off. After she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.), Wright stole third and scored on a throwing error to trim Catawba's lead to 2-1.

The Indians pushed their lead to three runs in the fifth. Kayla Myers (Bryson City, N.C.) delivered a RBI triple and then scored when Alli Justice (Bishopville, Md.) reached on a fielder's choice to give Catawba a 4-1 advantage.

The Lady Eagles made things interesting in the seventh, as freshman Sara Kelley (Birchwood, Tenn.) delivered a two-run triple to trim Catawba's lead to 4-3. However, Emily Huneycutt (Locust, N.C.) recorded the final out in the next at bat to seal the win.

Huneycutt (18-9) surrendered three runs and five hits in seven innings of work to pick up the victory.

C-N starting hurler Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) was tagged with the loss. Shealy (35-13) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings in the circle.

The Indians tallied seven hits in the win, including a 2-for-2 effort from Terry. Gibbs finished with a hit and two RBIs, while Myers contributed a triple.

Kelley produced a triple and two RBIs to lead the Lady Eagles, while junior Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) added a double.

Lenoir-Rhyne 2, Catawba 1

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne held off third-seeded Catawba College for a 2-1 victory on Friday afternoon in the winner's bracket final of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex.

With the win, the Bears (40-8) advance to the championship.

The Bears got on the board early, as Carlee Carpenter (Newton, N.C.) double down the left-field line in the first and then scored on a Kat Rivers (Royston, Ga.) triple to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 1-0 lead.

Lenoir-Rhyne pushed its lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Sophomore Megan Laxton (Taylorsville, N.C.) doubled down the right-field line to lead things off. Two batters later, Carpenter ripped a two-out single up the middle to give the Bears a two-run lead.

Catawba pulled to within a run in the sixth, as Carly Sabat (Warren, Ohio) singled and later scored on a wild pitch. However, the Indians were unable to push across another run.

Bears starting pitcher Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn.) fired a three-hitter to improve to 24-4 on the season. Millwood gave up one run and fanned nine batters in seven innings of work.

Catawba starter Emily Huneycutt (Locust, N.C.) took the loss. Huneycutt (17-9) gave up two runs and eight hits and had three strikeouts in six innings in the circle.

The Bears collected eight hits in the win, as Rivers went 3-for-3 to lead the way. Carpenter and Laxton finished with two apiece.

Sophomore Amanda Terry (Cordova, N.C.) had a double for Catawba.

Carson-Newman 6, Lincoln Memorial 3

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Senior Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) delivered a three-run triple in the sixth inning to lift second-seeded Carson-Newman to a 6-3 victory over eighth-seeded Lincoln Memorial on Friday in the loser's bracket of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex.

With the win, the Lady Eagles advance to the loser's bracket final and will face the loser of the matchup between top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne and third-seeded Catawba later this afternoon. Lincoln Memorial concludes its season at 29-24.

C-N entered the sixth trailing 3-2, but junior Kim Whaley (Maryville, Tenn.) started the rally with a double to left field and scored when Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.) singled to left center. Freshmen Sara Kelley (Birchwood, Tenn.) and Dariayn Wright (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Price then lined a triple to the gap in right center to clear the bases and give C-N a 6-3 cushion.

The Railsplitters threatened in the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out, but junior pitcher Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) was able to get Taylor McGinnis (Powell, Tenn.) to line out to Whaley in right field. Whaley then fired the ball to second base to turn the double play and end the game.

The Lady Eagles got off to a strong start, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Price singled to lead things off and later scored C-N's first run on a wild pitch. Sophomore catcher Bri Shoemake (Ooltewah, Tenn.) also singled in the inning and scored on a single to left field by Shealy to give C-N a 2-0 lead.

After an hour long rain delay, the Railsplitters were able to get their offense going in the fourth with a three-run outburst. Lincoln Memorial loaded the bases, and junior Brittany Stuive (Portland, Texas) smashed a double to the gap in right center to clear the bases and give the Railspitters a 3-2 lead.

But C-N rallied to win the game by erupting for four runs in the seventh.

The Lady Eagles collected 12 hits in the win, including a 3-for-3 effort from Wright. Price went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Lance and Kelley each went 2-for-3.

Lincoln Memorial finished with six hits, as Stuive led the way with a double and three RBIs.

Shealy (35-12) worked all seven innings to earn the win. She gave up three runs and six hits and fanned a season-high 10 batters.

Lincoln Memorial's Cierra Mudd (Washburn, Tenn.) took the loss. Mudd (11-9) surrendered two runs and three hits in 2/3 of an inning in the circle.