Carson-Newman Wins 2008 Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament Title With 6-3 Victory Over Mars Hill

NEWBERRY, S.C. - The top-seeded Carson-Newman College Lady Eagles claimed the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament title with a 6-3 win over the fifth-seeded Mars Hill College Lions at the Newberry College Softball Field on Sunday.

Carson-Newman (48-6) wins its 19th straight game and a berth to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region Tournament. Mars Hill's season ends at 39-16.

Mars Hill took a 2-0 lead right out of the gate, as catcher Christina Osborn (Birmingham, Ala.) ripped a two-run home run to left center off C-N starter Zoe Heim (Gallatin, Tenn; WP; 30-5). Her fourth blast of the year also scored Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.), who reached on a fielding error by Heim.

Carson-Newman answered the Osborn shot with three runs in the bottom half of the first. Senior Mandy Stevens (Knoxville, Tenn.) drove in Jessie Kuhlman (Portage, Mich.) and sophomore Stephanie Templeton's (Ringgold, Ga.) single through the left side drove in two to give the Lady Eahles the 3-2 lead.

C-N extended the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single up the middle from Sara Little (Calhoun, Ga.). Mars Hill starter Tara West (Urbana, Ohio; LP; 12-6) was tagged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on six hits in the opening three innings.

Whitney Hickam (Knoxville, Tenn.) capped the Carson-Newman scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run single through the right side to drive in Emily Hutchins (Hixson, Tenn.) and Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.).

Mars Hill rallied in the top of the seventh after a leadoff single by pinch hitter Jade Bullins (Danbury, N.C.). Pinch hitter Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) put runners on second and third with a single to right-center and an outfield error. Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.) drove in pinch runner Tiffany Farthing (Kure Beach, N.C.) after beating out an infield single.

The Lions had runners on second and third with one out, but Heim forced Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) to line out to short and struck out Osborn looking to end the game and give the Lady Eagles the tournament championship.

Heim allowed three runs - one earned - on six hits in seven innings of work. She struck out 12 batters while walking only one.

C-N Head Coach Vickie Hollifield Quotes:
On the win:
"When it first hits you, it has a numbing effect. This team has performed all year, and they did again today. This team has bounced back all year. We got down early and fought back, just like we have done all season long."
"Scooter (Amber) Palmer was remarkable behind the plate. She's been steady, has given us leadership, and has managed this team so well back there."

On Heim:
"Zoe has been great. She found herself in a couple of tough binds today and fought her way out. She continues to respond in pressure situations."

Carson-Newman 6, Mars Hill 3
Apr 20, 2008 at Newberry, S.C.
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Mars Hill........... 200 000 1 - 3 6 2 (39-16)
Carson-Newman....... 301 200 X - 6 8 3 (48-6)
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Pitchers: Mars Hill - Tara West; Paige Brantley(4). Carson-Newman - Heim.
Win-Heim(30-5) Loss-Tara West(12-6) T-1:25 A-231
HR MHC - Kristina Osborn.