FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA. – No. 22 Anderson University softball (20-4) split its nonconference matchup at Emmanuel dropping game one, 2-1(9), and wining game two, 6-2, on Tuesday afternoon at EC Softball Field.
Game one proved to be a pitching duel as AU's Laken Maxwell (11-3) suffered the loss after tossing 8.1 innings. Maxwell only gave up four hits while striking out 11 batters. Emmanuel's Kaitlyn Pickens pitched nine innings, giving up four hits and striking out five in the extra inning win.
"This team is so much better than they are performing," said head coach Tommy Hewitt. "This is the fourth game we have lost by one run. We are going to work on our hitting really hard over the next few days."
Freshman Maddie Carpenter was responsible for the Trojans lone run in game one. Carpenter drilled her second career home run to give the Black and Gold the 1-0 lead. The lead held strong through four and a half innings of play, before the Lions answered with a run of their own.
Neither team could cross the plate again, until Emmanuel used a sacrifice to move the placed runner from second to third, followed by a hit-by-pitch and a walk-single to give the Lions the, 2-1, victory.
The Trojans bounced back in game two, using 10 hits, to win 6-2 avoiding the sweep.
Senior Harlie Duncan (8-1) pitched a complete seven innings, giving up four hits and striking out eight batters.
Senior Kayson Boatner busted the game wide open after hitting a grand slam in the third inning of play. Boatner's 12 home runs on the season ranks first in the South Atlantic Conference. Carpenter picked up three more hits in game two, while seniors Gracie Williams and Jessica Neadow both batted 2-for-4. Senior Morgan Charter became AU's All-Time Hit-By-Pitch leader (32) after being hit on three occasions on the day, breaking 2019 graduate Kasey Grant's total of 29.
Anderson led 4-2 heading into the top half of the seventh inning. The Trojans were able to tack on two insurance runs to set the final score, 6-2.
No. 22 Anderson returns to action on Saturday against SAC foe Lenoir-Rhyne. First-pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 pm.
