ANDERSON, S.C.- A late inning collapse in game one prevented the Anderson University softball team from a road sweep against South Atlantic Conference foe Lincoln Memorial dropping the opener, 7-6 while winning game two, 6-4 Wednesday afternoon at Neely Field.
NOTES
• The Trojans move to 23-7 overall and 3-1 in conference action.
• With the split, Lincoln Memorial posts a 17-10 overall record while picking up its first conference win to move to 1-3 in the SAC.
NOTABLES
• Senior Courtney Czentnar batted 4-for-7 on the day with two doubles, a home run and six RBI.
• Junior Cailah Niles went 3-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI.
• Senior Augie Pena picked up two hits in five at-bats including a solo home run in the second inning.
• Freshman Mattie Hamilton added two hits including a 3-run blast in game two. Hamilton has hit a home run in six of the last seven games.
• Freshman, Meghan Majeski contributed three hits on the day while crossing the plate on three occasions.
PITCHING
Pena (10-2) suffered the setback after giving up nine hits and four earned runs.
Lincoln Memorial's Brianna Taylor (10-4) earned her tenth win of the season after allowing 10 hits in seven innings of work.
GAME 1
Anderson 6, Lincoln Memorial
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Trojans jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after two complete innings of play. In the first inning, Niles reached first on a two-out error moving to third on a single by Hamilton. Czentnar drilled a double to left center scoring both Niles and Hamilton. Pena's solo shot in the top of the second pushed the lead to three.
• Anderson stayed hot in the third inning scoring two more runs to claim a 5-0 lead. Niles and Majeski both singled with Czentnar driving in both with her second double of the game.
• In the bottom of the third, the Railsplitters used a single, two errors and a home run to cut the lead to one, 3-2.
• Anderson and Lincoln Memorial were both held scoreless in the fourth inning with the Trojans adding one more run in the top of the fifth, 6-2. With one out against the Black and Gold, Czentnar drove in her fifth RBI of the game scoring Majeski from third.
• With LMU running out of outs, the Railsplitters exploded in the bottom of the sixth taking advantage of four hits and three errors. When the dust settled, LMU scored five runs claiming a one-run lead heading into the last inning of play.
• Anderson was able to push a run across despite having a runner on with one out.
GAME 2
Anderson 6, Lincoln Memorial 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Anderson used a huge first inning scoring five runs to avoid its first sweep of the season. The Trojans began the game with seven straight hits including a double and two home runs.
• The Railsplitters were held scoreless through three innings of play while LMU was able to keep Anderson from scoring again until the top of the seventh.
• Lincoln Memorial would make things interesting, a run in the fourth and fifth while adding two more in the sixth to pull within one, 5-4.
• Anderson responded in the top half of the seventh inning with a run to provide a little more separation. Grant lead the inning off with a single while moving to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Grant moved to third on an infield ground ball by Majeski with Niles scoring Grant on a line drive sacrifice to centerfield, 6-4.
• Lincoln Memorial was not able to get a runner past second base in its last inning of play.
PITCHING
Senior Lauren Rudesheim (8-3) claimed her eighth win of the season after seven innings of work. Rudesheim gave up seven hits and struck out four Railsplitters.
LMU's Taylor (10-5) also got the nod in game two with the Trojans knocking her out of the game in the first inning with five straight hits and five runs. Justice Smith was called in with no outs in the top of the first. Smith pitched seven innings giving up three hits while striking out eight Trojans.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Black and Gold hit three home runs on the day moving their total to 12 in a seven game span. Anderson has hit a total of 28 home runs this season, six ahead of last year's tally through 30 games played.
UP NEXT
• Anderson remains on the road to continue its six-game road swing when it travels to SAC opponent Newberry on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.
