Dahlonega, Ga. – Despite winning 8-0 over the fifth-seeded Tusculum Pioneers, the Trojans were tested early on in the contest, using a mixture of great pitching, defense and timely hitting to send the Pioneers to the losers bracket on day one of the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Anderson (30-11) overall advances to face the host and top-seeded Nighthawks at 12 pm on Thursday.
"The team was really focused today, said head coach Tommy Hewitt. "We had not played a game since April 24 and I wasn't sure how we would respond to competition after a 25 day layoff. Hannah Whitaker pushed us over the top with her 2 run shot. Looking forward to tomorrow!"
Tusculum right out of the gate stranded two runners, after a two-hit, one error defensive inning by the Trojans. Following a single, error, strikeout and single to right field, the Pioneer runner Anna Galloway was gunned out, by junior Gracie Williams, trying to advance home. TU hitter Emily Sappington grounded out to end the threat.
After stranding two more runners in Tusculum's top-half of the second inning, the Trojans exploded for a four-hit inning to take a, 2-0, lead. Freshman Hannah Whitaker led the inning off with a triple to right field, followed by senior Matti Cantrell's single to left center, scoring Whitaker. Senior Kennedy Burton's two-out bunt single advanced Cantrell to second with junior Jessica Neadow's single back up the middle scoring Cantrell to push the Trojan lead to, 4-0.
The Trojans scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, after senior Mattie Hamilton drilled a double to center field. AU's Whitaker followed with a blast over the right center field wall to give the Black and Gold a, 6-0, lead.
Anderson polished off the Pioneers with a two-run sixth inning. Burton led the inning off with a walk. Charter was hit-by-pitch with one out with Boatner loading the bases with an infield hit. Burton scored from third on a wild pitch, advancing Charter to third and Boatner to second. Hamilton's fly ball to left field was just deep enough to score Charter, the game winning run from third.
Senior Harlie Duncan (14-3) earned the win on the afternoon in four innings of work. Duncan gave up no runs, six hits, while striking out one. Senior Sarah Middleton pitched the remaining two innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one.
Anderson advances to play No. 1 North Georgia at Noon on Thursday, while Tusculum awaits the loser between No.3 Young Harris and No. 6 Emmanuel.
