ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson softball team split with South Atlantic Conference foe Lenoir-Rhyne losing the opener, 2-0, while winning the nightcap in dramatic fashion, 12-11, on Saturday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.

Anderson (26-14, 6-8) was able to stop its four game skid by toppling the Bears in game two of the doubleheader. Lenoir-Rhyne moves to 35-9 and 12-2 in conference play dropping the Bears to second place in the league standings.

GAME #1
Lenoir-Rhyne 2, Anderson 0

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Augie Pena and Sophomore Rachael Barefield recorded the only two hits for the Trojans in game one of the doubleheader. Pena singled to right center in the bottom of the second while Barefield hit a double down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Anderson threw three different pitchers to help keep Lenoir-Rhyne off balance. Sophomore Randee Bettis (5-5) took the loss after getting the nod, pitching three innings giving up one run on two hits while walking three batters. Junior Lauren Rudesheim saw two innings of action giving up the second Bears run walking two while striking out one. Pena came on in the sixth inning striking out four of the seven batters she faced.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Lenoir-Rhyne took advantage of a three walk second inning to score the first run of the game while adding another run on a solo shot in the top half of the sixth inning setting the final score, 2-0.

Bears hurler Maryann Hoskins earned her 12th win on the season, tossing a two-hit shutout while striking out nine Trojans.

GAME #2
Anderson 12, Lenoir-Rhyne 11

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Leading the way for the Trojans was senior Molly Child going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and a single. Trojan teammates Pena and Barefield added two hits apiece while both hitting home runs. Sophomore Cailah Niles added a hit belting her ninth home run of the year while drawing four walks.

All three Trojans pitchers pitched two and a third innings to help claim the victory in game two. Pena (10-4) officially gets credit for her 10th win of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Anderson took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning on Niles' two run home run scoring Carli Hurtado who led off with a walk.

The Bears answered back in top of the second inning on a three run shot hit by junior Dakota Keller to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 3-2 lead.

The Trojans regained the lead their half of the third inning on an RBI single by Child and a bases loaded error by the Bears third baseman, giving Anderson a 4-3 lead. The Black and Gold tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, 6-3, taking advantage of four walks in the inning.

Lenoir-Rhyne closed the gap to 6-5 scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Trojans matched the Bears in the inning scoring two runs to push the score to, 8-5, on Child's two-out double.

The Bears went down in order in the top of the sixth inning while Anderson extended its lead to, 9-5. The Black and Gold first baseman drilled her eighth home run of the season over the left center field fence.

Lenoir-Rhyne exploded in the top of the seventh inning with six runs on eight hits, highlighted by a game-tying three-run blast by sophomore Madison Carter. The Bears added two more runs to take an 11-9 lead with the Trojans down to their last three outs.

Anderson's Child drilled a one-out double with Niles drawing her third intentional walk of the day. Freshman Madison Bivins reached on a fielder's choice retiring pitch runner Trudi Shuman for the second out of the innings, setting up the dramatic ending. Pena stepped up to the plate and blasted a three-run walk-off over the left field fence for the 12-11 victory.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
On the day, Black and Gold slugger Niles drew three walks, three intentional walks while being hit by a pitch.

NOTABLES
• Game two saw eight different pitchers used between the two teams.
• Pena hit her second walk-off home run this season with the first coming against Augusta at home in early February.
• Hurtado has reached base safely in 37 out of 40 games.

UP NEXT
The Trojans remain on their home field to welcome SAC opponent Tusculum on Tuesday. First pitch is slated at 3 p.m. at the AU Softball Complex.