Jefferson City, Tenn. – The Golden Eagles dropped three games on opening weekend. The first two games were a double header against Carson Newman were Charleston fell 12-1 and then 13-7. The next day Charleston played a single nine inning against Trevecca Nazerene, eventually falling 18-10.
GAME 1
The Basics:
Location: Silver Diamond Baseball Complex
Score: UC 1, CN 12
Records: Charleston 0-1 Carson Newman 5-0
How it Happened:
The first inning of the 2025 season was a struggle for the Golden Eagles. After going down in order at the plate, Charleston headed out to play defense. The Golden Eagles got a quick two outs with a groundout and a strikeout, but then the struggles began. The next two batters singled, a batter was hit, and a Carson Newman batter was walked to send the first run of the game home for the Eagles. The next hitter singled, followed by two more walks before getting the final out of the inning in form of a strikeout. The Eagles plated four runs in the first for a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Charleston found their first hit of the 2025 campaign, a single from Wilfredo Mendez. The Golden Eagles could not capitalize on the base runner though, heading back on defense after a quick trip to the plate. UC continued to struggle, allowing five runs on three hits and four free passes for Carson Newman, the Eagles now led 9-0 over the Golden Eagles.
Scott Templeton pitched the third inning for Charleston, and despite hitting the leadoff batter and walking three more, Templeton escaped danger and got Charleston back to the dugout without conceding another run.
After another scoreless inning for the Golden Eagles in the top of the fourth, Carson Newman plated their tenth run of the ball game on one hit, one error, and one free pass.
The fifth inning was scoreless for both sides, but in the bottom of the sixth, Carson Newman plated their final two runs of the game. The Eagles scored two runs on three hits in the inning.
The next two innings were scoreless for both sides, Charleston stepping to the plate in the top of the ninth, down to their final three outs. Casey Finck drew a lead-off walk and eventually came around to score on an infield single by Carter Rust. The Golden Eagles avoided the shutout, but eventually fell to the Eagles 12-1.
GAME 2
The Basics:
Location: Silver Diamond Baseball Complex
Score: UC 7, CN 13
Records: Charleston 0-2 Carson Newman 6-0
How it Happened:
Carson Newman got the scoring started in game two, scoring one run in the bottom of the first off three hits. Despite the early deficit, the Golden Eagles responded and scored two runs off four hits to take their first lead of the season, ahead 2-1 over the Carson Newman Eagles. The lead did not last long though, as Carson Newman responded with a five run bottom half of the inning to regain the lead 6-2.
The Eagles kept Charleston hitless in the third and the fourth and then tacked on five runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 11-2. The runs came off three hits, one Charleston error, four walks, and a hit batter.
Charleston was sat down in order in the top of the fifth and then Carson Newman scored their final two runs of the ballgame. The Golden Eagles then responded with two runs in the top of the sixth, the first coming off a solo homerun from Casey Finck. The fourth run of the game for Charleston was produced from a Wilfredo Mendez triple who scored off a Trent Dosenbach single.
Charleston tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh, Casey Finck picking up two more RBI's on a double to center field. Lane Weismiller then flew out right field, scoring a runner from third to extend their inning. The next batter flew out to end the Charleston threat. The Golden Eagles falling to Carson Newman 13-7.
GAME 3
The Basics:
Location: Silver Diamond Baseball Complex
Score: UC 10, TN 18
Records: Charleston 0-3 Trevecca Nazerene 2-3
How it Happened:
In Saturday's single nine inning match the visiting Trojans of Trevecca Nazerene opened up the scoring with two runs in the top half of the first inning. The Golden Eagles plated a run of their own off two hits. The first hit from leadoff batter Casey Finck who came around to score on a Dakota Miller double to right field.
The Trojans then responded with three more runs in the top of the second to extend their lead 5-1. Two innings later, Trevecca Nazarene plated four runs on four hits and one error, making the score now 9-1 over the Golden Eagles.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Golden Eagles began to chip away at the deficit, scoring two runs off a Carter Rust blast to left field, UC trailing 9-3. Trevecca then hit a homerun of their own, this one a leadoff solo shot to begin the inning. The Golden Eagles kept the damage to a minimum, heading to the bottom of the fifth trailing 10-3.
Charleston did not back down from the challenge, going on to score seven runs in the inning to tie the game. The first of the scoring came off an RBI walk with the bases loaded. The next batter to the plate, Dakota Miller, then blasted a grand slam followed immediately by an Evan Ulrich solo shot to left field. Two batters later, Carter Rust legged out a triple and came around to score on the next play on a single from Drew Gault.
Now tied with Charleston, the Trojans responded with a go ahead run in the top of the sixth, the run coming off an RBI walk. Charleston then went down in order in the bottom half of the inning, putting the bat back in Trevecca's hands. The Trojans third batter up in the inning hit a solo homerun to extend their lead 12-10.
In the top of the ninth, Trevecca found some cushion, scoring six runs off four hits and one UC error. Now done by eight runs with just three outs to play with, the Golden Eagles could only muster one hit in the bottom half, succumbing to the Trojans 18-10.
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will face off with West Chester in a four-game series at neutral site venue, Patriot Park in Fairfax, Virginia beginning February 22
nd. There will be a double header on Saturday set to start at noon as well as a double header Sunday with a noon start time as well.
