The Belmont Abbey softball team opened the 2013 season with a pair of losses to the visiting Carson-Newman Eagles this afternoon, dropping game one 13-0 in five innings and losing the nightcap 9-0 in six innings. It was the season opener for both teams.

In the opener, the Eagles scored 13 of their runs in three innings, starting with five runs on five hits in the first, two coming on a homer by Bethany Davis.

Two innings later, the Eagles struck for six runs-all coming with two outs-on three hits. Brittany Hefner produced three of the runs with a bases loaded triple, and two more came home on bases loaded walks.

In the fifth, Carson-Newman added two more on an RBI double by Hefner and a run-scoring single by Caitlyn Lance to up its lead to 13-0.

In the bottom of the frame, down to its last three outs, the Abbey had its best scoring chance of the game. Kaitlyn Jones led off with an infield single, and Shanie McConnell followed with a ringing double to the wall in right center. Jones reached third and headed home, but the Eagles relay was perfect as Jones was cut down by three feet. A popout and a groundout ended the game there.

McConnell finished with two of the Abbey's five hits, while Jones, Shannon Arthur and Nikki Faust all had one each. Carson-Newman totaled 12 as Lance finished three for four with two RBI and two runs scored. Hefner totaled two hits and four RBI.

Cassie Lyons earned the win in a complete game effort, yielding five hits over five scoreless innings, walking three and striking out a pair. Emily Self was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits in an inning and one-third.

In game two, the Eagles stormed ahead 4-0 in the top of the first, using a three-run homer from Sara Kelley and an RBI double from Hefner.

Two innings later, Carson-Newman extended their lead to 7-0 as Bethany Davis ripped a two-RBI single and Lance added another to build the edge to 7-0.

The Eagles moved ahead 9-0 in the sixth as Katie Brown scored on a wild pitch and Lance drove in another run with a single, her third hit of the game and the sixth of the doubleheader.

Belmont Abbey went down in order in the sixth as the game ended there.

Eagles starter Katie Sims worked five and one-thirds innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to record the win. She faced the minimum through three innings. Catelyn Pressley was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits in two and one-thirds innings, walking one and striking out one.

Amber Faust recorded the only Crusader hit, a single in the fourth. Carson-Newman registered 16 hits as Lance led the way with three and two RBI. Kelley finished with three RBI on two hits. Hefner and Elyana Siebert each had two hits.

Game One Box

Game Two Box