Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Carson-Newman College softball team scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning en route to a 6-5 elimination game victory over Wingate University Thursday afternoon at the Eagle Softball Complex. The game-winning hit was a two-out, three-RBI double by C-N freshman first baseman Caitlyn Lance (East Ridge, Tenn.).

Carson-Newman is 38-14-1 overall. The C-N Eagles will play the Lincoln Memorial/Brevard winner on Friday. Wingate is 31-15 overall. The Bulldogs will wait to hear from the NCAA Division II softball committee about a possible regional play-off berth.

In the seventh, Carson-Newman put runners on first and second with a single and a walk. Wingate starter Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) induced a fielder’s choice grounder to leave runners at first and second with one out. Smith issued a walk to load the bases.

Wingate head coach Michelle Caddigan went to the bullpen, calling on freshman Ashley Brown (Murrells Inlet, S.C.). The right-hander walked SAC Player of the Year Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) to score a run. Brown got the next batter to pop up before Lance hit her sixth double of the season to give the Eagles a 6-5 advantage.

The Bulldogs scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a three-run lead. Wingate senior third baseman Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) blasted her team-best ninth homer of the year to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 edge. Junior shortstop Maureen Sandidge (Sarasota, Fla.) and sophomore first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) followed with back-to-back singles. A two-run double to right center from freshman outfielder Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) gave the ‘Dogs a 5-2 lead.

The Eagles scored twice in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. The first two hitters of the inning went down on strikeouts, but the next three reached via a walk, a single and a hit batsman to load the bases. Lance drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit in half. Freshman third baseman Sara Kelley (Birchwood, Tenn.) followed with an RBI single to tie the game.

Wingate scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take an early 2-0 lead. Freshman designated player Courtney Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) led off the inning with a walk. She scored on an RBI double from senior second baseman Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.). Ager moved to third on a sacrifice, then scored on an error when freshman outfielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) stole second, making the score 2-0.

Ager was three-for-three with a double and one RBI for the Bulldogs. Five teammates had one hit each. Setzer was one-for-three with two RBI. Lance was two-for-three with four RBI for the Eagles. She also recorded 10 put-outs at first base. Shealy and senior outfielder Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) also had two hits each for Carson-Newman.

Brown took the loss, falling to 6-5 overall. She gave up one run on one hit in her 2/3 of an inning. Smith gave up five earned runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. She struck out six and walked five. Shealy pitched a complete game, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. She walked one and struck out one.