GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Fourth-seeded Carson-Newman exploded for six runs in the fifth inning en route to a 9-1 win over No. 5 seed Tusculum in six innings, Saturday morning in an elimination game of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship at Red Edmonds Field on the Tusculum campus.

With the victory, the Eagles (34-21) advance to the elimination bracket final against the loser of Saturday's winner's bracket final between No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 3 Anderson. Tusculum is eliminated from the tournament to end its season at 32-25.

The 32 wins by the Pioneers matches last year's tally for the most in school history during the NCAA Division II era (1998-present).

C-N broke up a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth inning, with a six-run frame thanks to six hits, highlighted by Bri Shoemake's three-run, two-out double. Sara Kelley added a two-run double, while pitcher Mary Shealy posted a RBI single in the frame as the Eagles led 7-1.

Carson-Newman added two more runs in the sixth to provide the winning margin and stay alive in the tournament.

Carson-Newman got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning when Shealy connected on her ninth homer of the season and third of the tournament with her solo blast to left field.

TC answered in the bottom of the frame when Katie Gross reached on a one-out single, moved to second on a bunt and scored on a Katy Stuckwish triple to right field to tie the game at 1-1.

Shoemake led the Eagles with her 3-for-4 performance, including four RBI, while Kelley went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Shealy added two hits, with two runs scored and two RBI, while scattering five hits and allowing one run, with two walks and a strikeout to improve to 34-21 on the year.

Gross led TC offensively with her 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Tusculum starter Elizabeth Johnson suffered the loss as she went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, seven runs and a walk to fall to 27-13 on the season.

- SAC -