Price's Triple Lifts C-N past LMU, 6-3, In Food Lion SAC Tournament
April 22, 2011
Courtesy of the South Atlantic Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, TN - 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 Lady 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.
Carson-Newman 6, Lincoln Memorial 3 (Apr 22, 2011 at Jefferson City, TN)
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Lincoln Memorial...... 000 300 0 - 3 6 0 (29-24)
Carson-Newman....... 200 004 X - 6 12 2 (39-14-1)
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Pitchers: Lincoln Memorial - Katie-Jo Gentry; Cierra Mudd(6) and Meg Ryan. Carson-Newman -
Mary Shealy and Bri Shoemake.
Win-Mary Shealy(35-12) Loss-Cierra Mudd(11-9) T-3:00 A-147
Weather: Overcast, low 70s
