ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson softball team dropped a pair of
South Atlantic Conference games against league leading Catawba
losing the opener in extra innings, 4-3, while falling, 3-0, in
game two on Saturday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.
Anderson falls to 28-16 overall and 8-10 in conference play
while Catawba moves to 33-10 on the year and 17-1 in SAC
action.
GAME #1
Catawba 4, Anderson 3 (8 innings)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Leading the Trojans at the plate was sophomore Rachael Barefield
going 2-for-2 with a double and a walk. Sophomore Carli Hurtado
went 1-for-3 drawing two walks and driving in a run. Freshman
Madison Bivins collected the fourth hit for the Black and Gold in
game one going 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk.
Junior Augie Pena got the nod in game one pitching two and two thirds innings. Pena gave up three hits, three runs while striking out one. Sophomore Randee Bettis (5-6) absorbed the loss pitching five and a third innings scattering five hits, walking one while striking out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Catawba got on the board first in the top half of the third inning.
With one out recorded, Lynnsey Taylor was hit by a pitch while
advancing to second on a single by Caroline Turner. Kristen
Stinnard reached on a fielder's choice loading the bases for the
Indians. Katherine Shumaker singled to left field scoring Taylor
for the first run of the game.
The Indians were able to score two more runs in the inning to
take a 3-0 lead. The Trojans would answer back in the bottom half
of the third innings, scoring three runs of their own.
Sophomore Cailah Niles led the inning off with a walk with pinch runner Bethany Chapman advancing to second on a failed pick out, moving to third on an error by the third baseman. Bivins stepped up to the plate and ripped a double to score Chapman from third, cutting into the Indians lead. Bivins moved to third base on a wild pitch followed by Kasey Grant's walk with Barefield loading the bases on an infield single. The Indians retired sophomore Trudi Shuman for the second out of the inning with freshman Michaela Smith standing in and drawing an RBI walk for the Trojans second run. Hurtado beat out a bases loaded infield single to score Grant from third to tie the game at 3 apiece.
The next four inning were played scoreless pushing game one into extra innings. Catawba's pinch runner Beth Ann Martin, being placed at second due the international tie break rule, advanced to third on a deep fly ball to right field by Leah Huggins. Martin scored two batters later on Gina Gerone's single to right center field to give the Indians a 4-3 lead. Bettis worked out of the mini jam after giving up a double to right center field, retiring Holli Chandler on a pop-up to Barefield at first base.
Catawba's hurler Carley Tysinger struck out the Trojans in order recording her 16th strikeout of the game and her 312th strikeout of the season.
GAME #2
Catawba 3, Anderson 0
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Hurtado led the way in game two going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Sophomores Niles and Shuman added a hit apiece for the Black and
Gold.
Junior Lauren Rudesheim (12-6) was credited with the loss after pitching four inning. Pena relieved Rudesheim in the fifth inning striking out six of the 13 batters she faced.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Catawba scored two runs in the top of the first on a double down
the left field line, scoring Turner and Stinnard.
Tysinger got the go ahead in game two pitching a complete game shut-out striking out 12 Trojans while picking up her 26th win of the year.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
Anderson stranded 23 runners on the day.
NOTABLES
• In game one, Barefield hit a potential walk-off home run
that hit the top of the fence and bounced back in for a stand-up
double.
• Hurtado went 3-for-7 on the day with two walks and an
RBI.
• Hurtado has reached base safely in 41 out of 44 games.
UP NEXT
The Trojans hit the road for a four-game road swing to finish up
regular season SAC play. The Black and Gold will play at Brevard on
Tuesday and Wingate on Saturday. The first pitch against the
Tornados is slated for 2 p.m.
