NEWBERRY, SC -- The top-seeded Carson-Newman College Lady Eagles held off a late charge from the fourth-seeded Lincoln Memorial University Lady Railsplitters, advancing to the semifinals of the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament with a 5-4 victory.

Carson-Newman (46-6) started the game on a tear, after Jesse Howard led off with a bunt single. Whitney Hickam drove Howard in with a ground-rule double and Mandy Stevens gave the Lady Eagles a 3-0 lead with her 11th homerun of the year.

The Lady Eagles pushed the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second on an RBI triple from Howard and a run-scoring bunt single from Jessie Kuhlman.

But Lincoln Memorial (32-15) would not go away without a fight. Alisa Burk led off the top of the fourth, reaching on a throwing error by the shortstop. A pair of singles from Devin Sponseller and Ashley Knight loaded the bases, and Mira McPeek's fielder's choice gave the Lady Railsplitters their first run.

SAC Player of the Year Sara Henn brought LMU to within two runs in the top of the fifth with a two-run double to left-center, and Jackie Adams' single in the top of the sixth sent pinch runner Alana Brandehoff towards home, and a fielding error by the catcher narrowed the deficit to one run.

But Carson-Newman's Zoe Heim (28-5) sat down the middle of the LMU lineup in the top of the seventh to send the Lady Eagles to the semifinals. Heim allowed four runs - two earned - on eight hits in seven innings, striking out eight. LMU's Jessica Locker (12-4) picks up the loss, striking out four while allowing five earned runs on eight hits in six innings.

Carson-Newman faces off against third-seeded Wingate at 2 p.m. tomorrow, while LMU faces Catawba immediately in the consolation bracket.