NEWBERRY, S.C. - Timely hitting and clutch pitching lifted the Anderson softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Newberry, 4-1 and 5-4, in South Atlantic Conference action Sunday afternoon at the Newberry Softball Field.
Freshman centerfielder Charlotte Sieber was a combined 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBI on the afternoon, while rookie catcher Laura Jansky added two hits in six at-bats, including her third homer of the season. Senior hurler Casey Deer recorded her 23rd complete game of the season and improved to 14-12.
With the sweep Anderson (21-18, 3-11 SAC) snapped an 11-game winless streak, while handing Newberry (15-26, 2-12 SAC) its' fifth consecutive setback.
Game #1
Anderson 4, Newberry 1
The Trojans used a four-run second inning to cruise to their 20th win on the season. Jansky kicked the inning off with a lead-off home run that sailed over the left-field wall. Seiber continued the offensive outburst by hitting her first home run as a Trojan. One out later, junior Brooke Lucas and sophomore Kelly McInnes followed with a walk and a single, respectively, to keep the pressure on Newberry and with two outs, senior Emily Monteith hit a two-RBI single to left field to score the two base runners. Monteith tallied her 21st RBIU on the year with the hit.
The four runs prove to be all Deer needed from the circle, as she scattered six Newberry hits throughout the course of the matchup. The senior pitched yet another complete game for Anderson as she gave up just one run off of six hits in her winning effort. She notched five strikeouts and walked four.
Monteith went two-for-four with two RBI. Jansky went two-for-three with her home run igniting the Trojans offense in the second inning.
Game #2
Anderson 5, Newberry 4
Newberry jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning as the Wolves used two base hits and a Trojan error to propel themselves to the early advantage. In the second inning, just as Newberry had done previously, the Trojans capitalized on miscues from Newberry when Amber Duncan crossed the plate on a wild pitch after leading off the frame with a walk.
AU captured the lead by adding a pair of runs in the fifth inning while sending eight batters to the plate.
Leading, 3-2, going into the final inning, the Trojans added two insurance runs off two hits and a Wolves' error. With two outs and McInnes and Duncan on base, Seiber singled to center field to plate the runs for Anderson, putting the Trojans up 5-2.
With three outs left to get back in the game, Newberry was able to score two runs and come to within one run of the Trojans. With two outs and the tying run at second, Deer notched her seventh strikeout of the game to help the Trojans pick up their 21st win.
Deer (14-12) tossed her 23rd complete game on the year, giving up three runs off six hits. Seiber led the Trojans offense as she went two-for-four on the day with three RBI.
The Trojans will close out their six game road trip when they visit Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday. The first game in Harrogate is scheduled to start at 2 pm. Anderson will close out their regular-season schedule when they duel Mars Hill on Saturday at Smethers field.
