ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University softball team begins its
quest for the South Atlantic Conference Tournament title and an
automatic berth into the NCAA DII Championship on Thursday in
Hartsville, S.C. when it faces #1 seed Lenoir-Rhyne. First pitch is
slated for 3 p.m. at Byerly Park.
GAME SETUP
• Who - Lenoir-Rhyne (43-9, 20-2 SAC) vs.
Anderson (29-19, 9-13 SAC)
• When - Thursday (3 p.m.)
• Where - Hartsville, S.C. @ SAC Championship
(Byerly Park)
COVERAGE
• Live Stats- Anderson
vs Lenoir-Rhyne
• Video - Anderson vs
Lenoir-Rhyne
SERIES HISTORY
• Overall Record - Lenoir-Rhyne leads 15-6 (2004-present)
• The Trojans and Bears have met 21 times, including 15 times
since Anderson joined the South Atlantic Conference for the 2011
campaign. Lenoir-Rhyne holds a decisive 15-6 advantage in the
overall series that dates back to the 2004. The Trojans swept the
regular-season series, 6-5 and 2-1, in Hickory a year ago while
also defeating the Bears, 5-3, after meeting in the 2015 SAC
Tournament. Most recently, the two teams split the home
doubleheader in Anderson handing the Bears their first of only two
losses in regular season conference play. Lenoir-Rhyne posted a
20-2 SAC record winning its 10th regular season SAC title.
PROBABLE LINEUP CARD FOR ANDERSON
• Leading off and playing shortstop #10 Carli
Hurtado … Hurtado is batting .329 while
leading the team in at-bats with 155. The sophomore has drawn 26
walks, stolen 16-of-18 bases while holding a .432 on base %.
Hurtado has reached base safely in 44 out of 48 games.
• Batting second and playing center field # 9
Molly Child … Child holds a .286 batting
average with seven doubles, two triples and four home runs. The
left hand hitter has drawn 17 walks this season adding to her
career total of 93, placing her 2nd on Anderson's all-time career
list and moving up to 4th in the SAC all-time career list.
• Batting third the catcher # 2 Cailah
Niles …Niles leads the team in batting with a
.407 average which includes 28 walks, nine doubles, 11 home runs
and 47 RBI. The sophomore catcher was honored by the SAC as an
Honorable Mention selection, as announced by the league office on
Tuesday. Niles ranked first in the league in RBI (47), second in
home runs (11) and third in batting average (.407). Niles also was
named the SAC Statistical Champion in on base % (.503), Slugging %
(.719) and RBI per game (0.98). The Phenix, Ala. native started all
48 games behind the plate, committing only one error for a (.996)
fielding percentage.
• Batting fourth and pitching today #27 Augie
Pena … Pena (12-5) ranked fourth in the SAC in
total strikeouts (153) and ERA (1.84) while ranking tied for second
in saves with three. The Trojan hurler pitched a total of 125 and
two thirds innings with opponent's batting a mere .195 while in the
circle. The Geneva, Ala. native also batted .260 with nine doubles
and six home runs for the Black and Gold. Pena earned All-SAC
Honorable Mention along with teammate Niles.
• Batting fifth and playing left field #4 Madison
Bivins …Bivins has collected 34 hits in 128 at
bats to post a .266 batting average for the Trojans. The freshman
outfielder began conference play with at least one hit in the first
9-out-of-10 games played.
• Batting sixth and playing first #20 Rachael
Barefield …Barefield ranks tied for 3rd in the
conference in home runs with 10. The sophomore is batting .238 with
seven doubles and 28 RBI on the season.
• Batting seventh and playing second #13 Kasey
Grant …Grant is batting .246 for the Black and
Gold while drawing 25 walks. The freshman second baseman has
amassed 104 put outs, 54 assists while committing just six errors
for a fielding percentage of .963.
• Batting eighth and playing third #6 Michaela
Smith …Smith has made starts at third base
this season while holding a .984 fielding percentage. At the plate,
Smith is batting .200 with four doubles and one home run.
• Batting ninth and playing right field #21 Trudi
Shuman …Shuman replaced Courtney Czentnar
after the junior outfielder injured her arm early in conference
play. Shuman has started 20 games for the Trojans collecting seven
hits, five walks while scoring two runs.
TROJAN BULLPEN
Lauren Rudesheim (12-7)…3 saves…2.12 ERA…112.1
innings pitched…82 strikouts…35
walks…(.227).
Randee Bettis (6-7)…3 saves…3.09 ERA…86
innings pitched…80 strikeouts…54
walks…(.249).
The Trojans are coached by 11th year head coach Tommy Hewitt with an overall record of 221-95 and SAC record of 69-51. Hewitt is assisted by Matt Thrasher, Mike Thrasher and Danielle Swygert.
LENOIR-RHYNE OVERVIEW
• Lenoir-Rhyne boasts a No. 19 national ranking by the
NCAA.
• The Bears are batting .349 as a team with a total of 101
doubles, 12 triples, and 42 home runs.
• Leading the Bears at the plate are Christina Walker (.419),
Erin Boone (.409) and Madison Carter (.386).
• Pitcher Maryann Hoskins (16-6) carries most of the workload
tossing 128 and two thirds innings while posting a 2.34 ERA for
Lenoir-Rhyne this season.
• The Bears landed eight players on the All-SAC honors list
with 17th year head coach Shena Hollar being named SAC Coach of the
Year for the 7th time in her career.
• Lenoir-Rhyne has won eight SAC Tournament titles winning
four straight before being halted by Anderson in 2014, claiming its
first.
Tournament Central: Click Here
