TAMPA --- Carson-Newman exploded for five runs in the sixth inning en route to a 9-3 upset win over second-seeded Tusculum in an elimination game of the 2008 NCAA Division II South Regional Baseball Tournament. The six-team, double-elimination tournament is being hosted by the University of Tampa.

The Eagles (43-17) establish a new single-season record for wins, while ending a four-game losing streak to their East Tennessee rivals. Tusculum ends its season at 41-15, their fourth straight 40-win campaign.

Carson-Newman got on the board in the first inning against Pioneer starter Eric Donahue (7-2). Second baseman Langdon Potts led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Derek Long.

The Eagles received a strong outing from starter Corbin Arial as he tossed four scoreless innings before loading the bases in the fifth with one out. Lefty Michael Elliot (4-0) surrendered a sacrifice fly to Carlos Rivera to plate the first Pioneer run before ending the inning. Elliot pitched the next two and a third en route to his fourth win of the season.

C-N batted around in the sixth, including a two-run homer by Tyler Wynn and a two-run double by Jason Gray as the Eagles led 6-1.

The teams traded runs in the seventh, but the Eagles added two more in the eighth. Pioneer catcher Christian Rosa hit a solo shot in the ninth in his final collegiate at-bat to provide the final margin.? For Rosa, it was his 12th home run of the year, scoring his 73rd run which is a new school record.

Second baseman Maikol Gonzalez singled in his final at-bat for his 103rd hit of 2008, establishing a new school and South Atlantic Conference record.

-TC-