MARS HILL, N.C. - The Anderson University softball team split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Mars Hill, winning the opener, 7-5, but dropping the nightcap, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Ponder Park.

Anderson, which has won three of its last four conference matchups, improved to 26-6 overall and 4-2 in league action, while Mars Hill moved to 18-15 and 4-4.

Game #1
Anderson 7, Mars Hill 5

Sophomore shortstop Abby Child was 3-for-4, with a two-run home run, while Danielle Swygert finished the opener 2-for-3, with a run scored and an RBI. Freshman Jessica Neidigh notched two hits in four at-bats and also crossed the plate twice. Freshman Bri Cason notched a double and single in four trips to the plate and Charlotte Sieber added a pair of singles.

Anderson wasted no time in jumping out to a 1-0 advantage in the opener, as Neidigh led off the game with a single to center and moved into scoring position on Child's one-out single. Swygert's single back up the middle scored Neidigh from second.

The Trojans capitalized on a Lion miscue to extend their lead with a four-run second inning. Cason led off with a double and scored on an RBI-groundout by sophomore Charlotte Sieber. The Trojans put together a two-out rally when Neidigh reached on an error, stole second and came around to score on a Rebecca Martin single to right-center. Child followed with a two-run home run to left-center to make the score 5-0.

Mars Hill battled back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Taylor Morris drew a walk before Trojan hurler Larissa Ostapiak retired the next two Lions. But Mars Hill went to work with a two-out rally. Taylor Jordan drew a walk and Stephanie McGrath legged out an infield single to load the bases. Ashley McCurry followed with a double off the fence to bring home two runs to cut the AU lead to 5-2. A Megan Arrington walk loaded the bases again, and Robyn Stanek was hit by a pitch to bring home a run and make the score 5-3.

Mars Hill again loaded the bases in the bottom of the third and pushed across a run on an RBI-single by Jordan.
The Lions threatened again threatened in the fourth and fifth innings, but Amber Duncan, who was on in relief of Ostapiak, kept Mars Hill in check.

Anderson added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on RBI-singles by sophomore Laura Jansky and Cason to boost Anderson's lead to 7-4.

The Lions countered by trimming the lead to 7-5 in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-single by McCurry, who had three RBI's in the game, but Duncan held off the Lions' comeback, earning her team-leading 12th win of the season. The right-hander tossed four innings of relief, giving up just one run and striking out five, while walking two.

Game #2
Mars Hill 2, Anderson 1

Child finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, while Cason also notched a pair of singles in four at-bats. Neidigh was 1-for-3 with the round-tripper and Sieber was 1-for-2.

Mars Hill scored two early runs and a strong pitching performance from Hussey in the circle led the Lions to the 2-1 victory and the doubleheader split.

McCurry led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Arrington. With two out, Natalie Haithcox recorded a home run to right field, giving the Lions a 2-0 Lion lead.

Duncan limited the Lions to just five hits over the final five innings, but the Trojan offense was unable to get on track except for Neidigh's third home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning.

Hussey went the distance in the circle for the Lions, allowing six hits and struck out one to improve to 6-5 on the season. Duncan suffered just her third setback of the season, while tossing six innings and giving up two runs on seven hits.

Anderson will get back on the diamond Wednesday, when the Trojans visit Wingate. First-pitch is slated for 2 p.m.