ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University softball team will be looking to extend its win streak to six games when South Atlantic Conference opponent Mars Hill invades Smethers Field on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. first-pitch.

The Trojans
The Trojans are off to their best start at home in school history, reeling off 12 consecutive victories at Smethers Field to begin the season, with their last home loss coming as a setback to USC Aiken in last year's NCAA Southeast Regional.

Overall, Anderson has claimed wins in 15 of its last 18 contests, with two of the setbacks coming a week ago as one-run losses at Young Harris. The Trojan offense ranks first in the league with 30 home runs and 155 RBI on the season, while holding the second spot in runs scored (162), hits (216), extra base hits (69), walks (85), on-base percentage (.418) and slugging percentage (.530).

The AU pitching staff has combined to post nine shutouts, which leads the league and ranks second in the league with a stellar .175 ERA, while holding opponents to a .201 batting average.

Freshman catcher Cailah Niles, who entered last weekend tied for second in the nation with 11 home runs, hammered her league-leading 12th round-tripper of the season in the Sunday afternoon sweep of Lenoir-Rhyne. The Phenix City, Ala., native also paces the conference in hits (35), RBI (39) total bases (75) and slugging percentage (.987), while ranking second in the conference with a .461 batting average and third with her .529 on-base percentage.

Senior Jessica Neidigh is hitting .425 on the season after posting four hits in nine at-bats at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Trojans' leadoff hitter has 34 hits on the season, including 15 for extra bases, and boasts a .813 slugging percentage. Junior center fielder Molly Child leads AU with seven doubles and is hitting .364, while freshman Chelsea Jones is third on the team with 21 RBI and leads the Trojans with 16 walks on the season, while batting .353.

Senior Bri Cason is hitting an even .300 on the year, while freshman Carli Hurtado is sixth on the squad with a .297 batting average. Hurtado and Neidigh have combined to go 20-for-20 in stolen bases on the season, while Courtney Czentnar is 4-for-5 on the base paths.

Sophomore pitchers Augie Pena and Lauren Rudesheim are tied for sixth in the conference with seven wins apiece, while Pena is third in the SAC with 8.73 strikeouts per contest. The hard-throwing right-hander leads the league by holding opponents a .175 batting average. Rudesheim is fourth in the SAC with a 1.61 ERA and has three shutouts, while leading the Trojans with seven complete games on the year. Jones (5-1) captured a win and her third save at Lenoir-Rhyne and has lowered her ERA to 1.34, which is good enough for third in the SAC.

The Lions
Mars Hill (2-9) was a preseason pick to finish eighth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, after posting a 24-20 record last season, including an 8-14 mark in the SAC.

The Lions were swept on the road by North Greenville last Thursday and have dropped four of their last five decisions, while claiming wins over Salem and Mount Olive on the season.

Freshman Taylor Lail leads Mars Hill and ranks fourth in the league with a .455 batting average on the season, while also pacing the Lions with a .500 on-base percentage and a .727 slugging percentage. Sophomore Shelby Culler is second on the squad with a .385 batting average, while senior Robyn Stanek owns a .367 batting average.

The Series vs. Mars Hill
The Trojans and Lions have squared off 18 times since the 2006 season, with nine of the meetings occurring since Anderson joined the South Atlantic Conference for the 2011 campaign. Mars Hill leads the all-time series, 11-7, while the Trojans have won five of the eight league matchups. The Lions claimed seven consecutive victories in the series from 2007-10, while Anderson has claimed five of the last nine matchups.

Anderson and Mars Hill split a pair of slugfests last season, with the Trojans recording 28 hits, including five home runs, in the two contests. AU won the opener, 14-11, and dropped the nightcap, 9-8. Child posted six hits on the afternoon, including a home run in the opener and was 4-for-4 in the nightcap.