Jefferson City, Tenn.-The Anderson University softball team earned two huge South Atlantic Conference wins over preseason favorite Carson-Newman winning game one, 10-5, and winning the nightcap, 12-8 on Thursday afternoon at the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex.
Anderson moves to 22-6 overall and 4-0 SAC play while Carson-Newman drops to 19-9 overall and 1-3 in conference action.
The Trojans have won their last eight outings while the Eagles have suffered three straight setbacks.
Game #1
Anderson 10, Carson-Newman 5
Anderson struck first with timely two out hitting in the first. After Kasey Grant walked and stole second, she moved to third on a groundout. Breanna Hagerty hit an infield single to short to drive her in before Mattie Hamilton's two-run shot to right center to propel Anderson to a 3-0 advantage.
Carson-Newman countered in the bottom of the first to get a run back after Lacie Rinus singled to center to give the Eagles runners on the corners. Haley Caldwell was able to hit a deep ball to center to put the Eagles on the board, 3-1.
The Eagles were able to tie the game at 3-3 using two singles and a two RBI triple.
The Trojans answered right back in the top-half of the third inning taking advantage of five walks in the inning with the final two pushing across runs.
Anderson was able to add to its lead in the fourth inning with Mattie Hamilton's RBI single and an error to put AU up, 7-3.
The Black and Gold were not finished adding a run in each of the final three innings. Carson-Newman tacked on two runs in the bottom of the seventh to set the final score at 10-5.
Kayla Pepper (7-3) got the win for the Trojans pitching 6.1 innings. Pepper gave up 12 hits while striking out six Eagles.
Lacie Rinus (11-6) took the loss for the Eagles. Rinus allowed nine Trojans hits while walking eight batters. Valerie Seay was called on in relief pitching 1.0 inning. Seay gave up one hit, one run and a walk.
Game #2
Anderson 12, Carson-Newman 8
Anderson jumped out to a 3-0 lead to open the nightcap. Senior Cailah Niles led off the game with a base hit back up the box and moved to second on a sacrifice. A fielder's choice to third gave the Trojans a pair of base runners. Hamilton drilled her sixth home run of the season put the Trojans up 3-0.
Carson-Newman scored three runs in the bottom of the first using three errors and a walk to even the score.
Anderson recaptured the lead in the second with a Niles two-out single to right that brought in a pinch-running Khloe Saunders from third, 4-3.
The Eagles would take a 7-4 lead after their half of the second inning after three illegal pitches, three walks and two extra base hits.
The Trojans would erase the lead in the top of the third with a two-out, three-run home run from Rachael Barefield, her third of the season, to level the score at 7-7.
The Black and Gold was able to hold the Eagles to a single run over the final five innings while adding five more to their side.
Freshman Harlie Duncan (10-1) got the win in relief, pitching 5.0 innings of two-hit, one-run ball. Senior Randee Bettis got the start in game two pitching 2.0 innings. Bettis gave up five hits and seven runs, four were earned.
Crawford took the loss for the Eagles to drop to 8-3 allowing 13 hits and 11 earned runs.
NOTABLES
- Barefield batted 4-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI.
- Hagerty went 4-for-8 with four runs scored and two RBI.
- Hamilton went 4-for-9 with two home runs, five runs scored and six RBI.
- Kasey Grant batted 3-for-7 scoring two runs.
STAT OF THE DAY
It had two been two years since Carson-Newman suffered a doubleheader sweep on its home turf.
UP NEXT
Anderson returns home to host SAC opponent Tusculum on Tuesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
