April 24, 2007

Stats

JEFFERSON CITY, TN-- Brandon Burchfield scored the winning run from first base in the bottom of the eighth inning as Carson-Newman edged Brevard, 3-2 in the Eagles' 2007 regular season finale at the Silver Diamond Complex. Burchfield, Adam Kefauver, Matt Teague, Mark Carroll, Chris Gillies, and Jim Doran were honored in pregame ceremonies for their final home game as Carson-Newman Eagles.

The Eagles (36-18) were held scoreless until the seventh inning when Kefauver singled and advanced to third on an error by Brevard rightfielder Brandon Fleming. Derek Long slapped a base hit past a drawn-in infield to score Kefauver and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. After Jim Doran reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a Michael Brown groundout, Tyler Wynn drove in Doran with a two-out single for a two-run Carson-Newman advantage.

Brevard made the game interesting in the top of the eighth inning. Leftfielder Brice Warner was hit by a Gillies pitch and first baseman Justin Frady walked to put two runners on with no outs. After a groundout by designated hitter Josh Miller to advance the runners to second and third, catcher Seth Corliss singled home Warner to cut C-N's lead to 2-1. Brevard tied the game at 2-2 when Fleming's sacrifice fly scored Frady.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Burchfield singled to right center. Two batters later, Kefauver hit a sharp ground ball that was misplayed by Fleming at second base. Burchfield took advantage of the miscue and scored all the way from first base to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead. Corbin Arial pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

The Eagles now await word on who their opponent will be in the NCAA Regional tournament in two weeks.