ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson softball team used five home runs to
swept a pair of games from South Atlantic Conference opponent
Tusculum winning the opener, 7-1, while winning game two, 5-1, on
Wednesday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.
Anderson (28-14, 8-8) picked up two big conference wins while
pushing its win streak to three games. Tusculum falls to 17-27
overall and 3-13 in conference action.
GAME #1
Anderson 7, Tusculum 1
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore Cailah Niles went 2-for-3 with a single and a two-run
home run while four more Trojans added a hit apiece in game one.
Classmate Rachael Barefield was 1-for-2 at the plate drilling her
ninth home run of the season.
Leadoff batter Carli Hurtado batted 1-for-2 with a walk, stolen base and run scored while freshmen Madison Bivins and Kasey Grant both had hits to the left side with both crossing the plate one time for the Black and Gold.
Randee Bettis closed out the win with three scoreless innings in relief of Augie Pena (11-4), who struck out eight in four innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tusculum scored its lone run of the game in the top of the first
inning on a solo home run by Robin Stoner, taking a 1-0 lead.
Anderson answered back in the bottom half of the inning with six
run explosion, highlighted by Barefield's three-run shot over the
left field fence.
The Black and Gold tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on Niles' 10th round-tripper of the season, setting the final score, 7-1, in game one.
GAME #2
Anderson 5, Tusculum 1
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Seven different Trojans collected hits in game two of the
doubleheader with Niles leading the way going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Black and Gold hitters Trudi Shuman, Michaela Smith and Hurtado
added singles to the hit total while Molly Child, Bivins and
Barefield smashed a home run apiece.
Junior Lauren Rudesheim earned her 12th win of the season in four innings of work. Bettis pitched three innings in relief giving up one-hit while striking out six batters to earn her third save of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tusculum took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with the
Trojans answering back in the bottom half of the inning.
Bivins lead the second inning off with her fourth home run of the season. The Pioneers retired Pena for the first out of the inning. Grant drew her 23rd walk of the season setting up Barefield's two-run home run over the center field fence to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead.
The Black and Gold would go up, 4-1, in the bottom of the fifth on Child's third home run of the year. Anderson would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Hurtado, scoring Grant.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
The Trojans hit five home runs on the day for the second time this
season with the first coming at Mars Hill on March 30.
NOTABLES
• Barefield hit her ninth and 10th home run of the season.
• Niles went 4-for-6 on the day raising her batting average
from .427 to .440.
• Bettis earned two saves on the day giving up only three hits
while striking out 10.
• Hurtado has reached base safely in 39 out of 42 games.
UP NEXT
The Trojans finish up its six-game homestand and final home games
when they welcome league leading Catawba on Saturday. First pitch
is slated at 3 p.m. at the AU Softball Complex.
