SALISBURY, N.C. – After collecting just one hit in game one, No. 16 Anderson University softball (14-4, 2-0 SAC) bats came alive gathering 15 hits to earn the doubleheader split at South Atlantic Conference opponent Catawba, dropping game one 8-0 (5 innings) and winning game two, 5-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Whitley Field.
Anderson could only muster up one hit in game one, giving up 13 to lose its first five inning game since February 2021.
Freshman Lane Edgington (7-2) was tagged with the loss. Edgington pitched 2.2 innings, giving up seven hits and four runs before being relieved by sophomore Trinity Queen. Queen pitched 2.0 innings, giving up six hits and four runs.
In game two, Anderson picked up five hits in the top of the first, highlighted by senior Kayson Boatner's league leading 12th home run of the season. The Trojans took the early, 3-0 lead.
Anderson tacked on two more runs, scoring one each in the second and third inning of play. Senior Olivia Rose Wheeler scored in the second and senior Jessica Neadow's sacrifice fly scored freshman Lauren Brakovec in the third.
Catawba scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out bases loaded walk. Freshman hurler Carson Hobbs was able to get out of the jam on a ground ball to third base to end the threat.
The Indians were able to score another run in the fifth inning and two more in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within one run, 5-4.
AU's Hobbs led the top of the seventh inning off with a single to left center, but was stranded at first base after a strikeout, a flyout and an infield popup.
With Catawba down to its last three outs, led the inning off with a base hit to center followed by a walk. Hobbs retired the first out of the inning on a foul out with the batter trying to bunt over the advance the runners. The fourth batter of the inning flew out to shallow center for the second out. After drawing a walk to load the bases, the final out was made by runner interference after the ground ball hit towards second made contact with the runner, ending the game.
Hobbs (8-3) toed the rubber in game two, picking up her eighth win of the season.
The Black and Gold have a ten-day break before returning to the friendly confines of the AU Softball Complex. AU will host South Atlantic Conference foe Lenoir-Rhyne on March 11th. First-pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 pm.
