WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Anderson University softball team rebounded from a disappointing outing at Catawba less than a day earlier by sweeping a nonconference doubleheader at Winston-Salem State, 10-6 and 8-2, Saturday afternoon at Salem College Field.

In the first-ever meetings between the two programs, Anderson wrapped up its nonconference slate by improving to 29-9 on the season with its 14th win in 18 games. Winston-Salem State fell to 10-17 overall with its fifth loss in six decisions.

Game #1
Anderson 10, Winston-Salem State 6
Senior Rebecca Martin clubbed her first two home runs of the season, including a fifth-inning grand slam, to pace the Trojans' offense. The left fielder also added a walk and scored twice. Freshman Carli Hurtado was 2-for-4 and also scored twice, while senior Jessica Neidigh belted her second home run in as many games and added a first-inning single. She drove in two runs and crossed the plate once. Freshman Rachael Barefield added a pair of singles and an RBI, while junior Molly Child slammed her fifth homer of the season in the sixth inning - a two-run shot over the right-field fence. Freshman Cailah Niles was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

Freshman Chelsea Jones (11-3) earned the win by going five innings, while allowing four runs on five hits. She struck out seven and walked three. Neidigh allowed two runs on six hits in two innings of relief, while making her first appearance in the circle since her freshman campaign.

The Lady Rams took advantage of a lead-off walk, a pair of sacrifice bunts and a wild pitch to grab an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, while Martin knotted the score with a solo two-out homer in the top of the second frame.

Neidigh's two-run shot with no outs in the third inning gave the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish, at 3-1, with AU adding another run in the fourth when sophomore Courtney Czentnar walked with one out, stole second and crossed the plate on Barefield's single up the middle.

Winston-Salem trimmed the Trojan lead to one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Anderson countered with a four-run fifth inning to claim an 8-3 advantage. Jones reached base on a one-out single down the left-field line, with senior Bri Cason reaching on a fielder's choice. After Czentnar beat out an infield single, Martin belted her two-out grand slam.

The Lady Rams countered with a run in the bottom of the inning, while AU boosted its lead to 10-4 behind Child's two-run homer beyond the center-field fence. Winston-Salem posted solo runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to set the final score.

Game #2
Anderson 8, Winston-Salem State 2
Neidigh added three singles and a walk in four trips to the plate in the nightcap. She scored twice and drove in a run. Hurtado posted a pair of singles and a walk, while crossing the plate once and recording an RBI. Barefield was 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Czentnar walked twice and posted a pair of RBI, with Child and Niles combining for four RBI.

Sophomore Lauren Rudesheim (11-5) posted her 11th complete game of the season, while allowing just two runs on nine hits. The right-hander struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

After the Trojans capitalized on the first of three Lady Rams' errors in the nightcap to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Winston-Salem sent six batters to the plate en route to claiming a 2-1 lead. But Rudesheim settled in after the opening inning and held the Lady Rams to five singles over the next six frames, with just three runners reaching scoring position.

Anderson took advantage of four consecutive one-out walks to gain a 3-2 edge after two innings and added a solo run in the third inning to take a two-run lead.

The Trojans sent eight batters to the plate in the decisive fifth inning, while scoring four times to take an 8-2 advantage.

Anderson will get back on the diamond Tuesday, when the Trojans welcome Carson-Newman to Smethers Field for a 2 p.m. first-pitch.