Harrogate, Tenn. – Anderson University softball carried a 3-1 lead into the final inning of play before falling to the third-seeded Railsplitters, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at Neely Field in Harrogate, Tenn.
Inclement weather forced the NCAA committee to move today's game(s) from Carson-Newman, due to unplayable field conditions, to Lincoln Memorial.
Anderson's 2019 campaign end with a 33-22 overall record, while Lincoln Memorial (38-13) advances to the Super Regionals to face Peach Belt Conference opponent Young Harris in a best 2-of-3 series.
Lincoln Memorial scored first in the bottom of the second inning with Anderson evening the game up at 1-1 after three innings of play. AU's senior first baseman Joshlyn Martin led the inning off with a double and was pushed across the plate on freshman Morgan Charter's two-out single to right center.
Heavy rains swept through the area halfway through play, halting the game for a brief time. Both teams played the fourth and fifth innings scoreless before the Trojans put up a two-spot in the top half of the sixth inning.
Senior Breanna Hagerty led the inning off with a solo shot followed by senior Kasey Grant's infield single. Grant moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by freshman Sydney Belcher. Pinch-hitter Abigail Webb moved Grant to third on a single to the pitcher with junior Meghan Majeski's infield single loading the bases. Junior Mattie Hamilton singled to the six-hole to score Grant from third, before a Trojan ground out ended the inning.
The Black and Gold held LMU scoreless in their half of the sixth inning, while LMU shutdown the Trojans in the top of the seventh. The Railspitters used four singles and a double to produce three-runs and complete the comeback and the right to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore Kayla Pepper (16-14) was tagged with the loss after 6.1 innings of work. Pepper gave up 11 hits while striking out three.
Anderson collected 11 hits on the day which included two doubles and a homerun.