ANDERSON, S.C. - Paced by senior Amber Duncan's performance in the circle and at the plate, the Anderson University softball team split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader, winning 4-2 in the opener and falling 8-4, with Catawba Tuesday afternoon at Smethers Field.

Anderson (31-7, 9-3 SAC) had its five-game win streak halted with the loss in the nightcap, but has claimed wins in seven of its last nine contests and improved to 12-4 at home. Catawba moved to 27-14 overall and 7-4 in the league.

Game #1
Anderson 4, Catawba 2

Anderson freshman third baseman Bri Cason was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, with an RBI and scored a run, while Rachel Rhodes notched a pair of singles in three trips to the plate. Freshman left-fielder Rebecca Martin posted a single and a run-scoring double, with senior Amber Duncan and freshman Jessica Neidigh each recording doubles in the opener.

Duncan (17-4) started in the circle, tossing her 14th complete game of the campaign en route to earning the win. The right-hander scattered eight hits, while surrendering just two runs. She struck out five and walked three. Senior Brittany Murray absorbed the loss, giving up four runs off nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.

The Trojans snapped a scoreless game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Duncan ripped a one-out double to center, moved to third on Rhodes' single to center and crossed the plate when Cason laced an opposite-field single to right. Two batters later, Neidigh came through with a clutch two-run double to left-center to bring home both Rhodes and Cason.

The Lady Indians sent seven batters to the plate in the seventh, rallying for a pair of runs and had the potential tying run on first with two outs, but were unable to capitalize.

Game #2
Catawba 8, Anderson 4

Duncan was 2-for-2 in the nightcap, with a single and double, while sophomore Danielle Swygert blasted a two-run homer in the third inning. Cason and Abby Child each added a hit for the Trojans.

Anderson scored four times in the third, with Child lacing a two-out, two-run single to left field and Swygert followed by belting her fourth home run of the season over the fence in center field.

But Catawba rallied with a pair of runs in the fifth inning and knotted the score at 4-4 with two more runs in the eighth to send the contest into extra innings. The Lady Indians batted around in the top of the eighth, scoring four times and the Trojans were unable to rally in the bottom of the frame.

Freshman Larissa Ostapiak started in the circle for AU, giving up one hit and striking out one in four innings of work. Duncan suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs (four earned) on nine hits over four innings. Emily B. Huneycutt earned the win, tossing eight innings and giving up four runs on six hits.

Anderson will get back in action on Friday, when the Trojans visit conference-opponent Carson-Newman, with first-pitch slated for 1 p.m. in Jefferson City, Tenn.