Hickory, N.C. - Sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (42-8) and Armstrong Atlantic State (31-12) both won on the first day of the 2011 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at Bears Field.

On Saturday, the Pirates and the Bears will square off at Noon while Carson-Newman (39-16-1) and USC Aiken (26-17) will play each other in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m.? L-R defeated USC Aiken by a 1-0 score after Armstrong Atlantic State rallied for a 3-2 win in eight innings over Carson-Newman.

Lenoir-Rhyne 1, USC Aiken 0
L-R junior Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn.) (25-4), the 2011 South Atlantic Conference Pitcher Of The Year, threw a three-hit shutout while junior catcher Sarah Atkins (Newport News, Va.) drove in the game's only run as the Bears prevailed in the second contest of the day.

Millwood also struck out three and was able to retire the final three batters in the top of the seventh inning with runners at second and third and no outs.

The contest was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Atkins connected on a one-out, RBI single which plated freshman third baseman Haily Jarman (Wadesboro, N.C.) for the game's only run.

USC Aiken's India Kornegay (Eufaula, Ala.) suffered the loss and fell to 13-9 on the year despite allowing just four hits while striking out seven.? The Pacers' Kylee Knop (Oxford, Ga.) had a game-high two hits in the setback.

Box Score

QUOTES
Lenoir-Rhyne Head Coach Shena Hollar
"I thought we played well defensively and Dawon (Millwood) got people out.? The nine left on base, you look at that and say 'wow we should have had more runs.'? I think just getting back into the swing of things.? Everyone was anxious and the longer you go without getting a run the more anxious you'll get."

(On Armstrong Atlantic State)
"They can swing it.? We're a different team, they're a different team.? Carson-Newman had them beat and let it get away.? Taking three weeks off, hitting, it's hard to get that rhythm.? Seeing a good pitcher today will help us tomorrow.? I think it will be a tight game tomorrow."

USC Aiken Head Coach Jerry Snyder
(On freshman pitcher India Kornegay)
"She did a great job.? She did what we wanted her to do, she did enough of her part to win.? She had a good defense behind her.? We made some plays and she got us out of trouble.? Lenoir-Rhyne, if there's one thing they do, it's hit.? And to give up only four hits as a freshman I am proud of her."

(On being shutout)
"Offense, on the other hand, you know having almost a month off certainly affects us.? I do think it affects both team and it showed today.? We had two innings with runners on third and all you need there is a fly ball.? It's tough, she goes out there and throws her guts out.? She's a great kid and she's going to be really really good."

Armstrong Atlantic State 3, Carson-Newman 2
The Pirates picked up a 3-2 win in game one of the Hickory Regional as Armstrong Atlantic State came from behind to defeat Carson-Newman in eight innings.

The Eagles broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning.? With a runner on first and two outs, Sara Kelley (Birchwood, Tenn.) sent a line drive over the fence in right center field for a two-run home run.

The contest seemed to belong to the Eagles but the Pirates would not go quietly. With two outs and runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh inning, Erin Billingsley (Roswell, Ga.) hit a two-run single to left field to tie the score at two and force extra innings.

Armstrong Atlantic State benefited from two Carson-Newman errors to put runners on first and third with two outs in the eighth inning. Lauren Wilcox (Hazlehurst, Ga.) then ripped a single to left field to plate Bethany Wilke (Lynn Haven, Fla.) for the game-winning run.? Wilcox led the Pirates with two hits.

Megan Barnwell (Brooklet, Ga.) (23-7) garnered the victory as she struck out eight while Carson-Newman?s Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.) (36-14) suffered the loss.? Both pitchers went the distance.

Box Score

QUOTES
Armstrong Atlantic State Head Coach Ted Evans
"We called ourselves all year the 'Cardiac Kids' and we certainly were the 'Cardiac Kids' today."

(On tying the game in the seventh inning)
"Well, it's a situation where, first of all, we've got the player of the year coming up (April Jowers).? When she got on, we knew we had a chance.? The next batter was one of the most clutch hitters we've had the past four years (Billingsley).? We at least felt good about where we were at that point."

Carson-Newman Head Coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield:
"I thought we played well through six and a half (innings).? You cannot take one half inning off when you are at regional play.? We didn't make their two slappers work.? We threw them down the middle and it was just too easy."

(On Armstrong Atlantic State):
"I don't want to take anything from them (AASU), but I just wish we threw more effectively that last half inning.? I never like to make four errors in a ball game.? Fortunately, none of them hurt us until that last half inning, but I never like to see that.? We were just one out away from being on the winning side."