ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University softball (20-10, 6-6 SAC) split a doubleheader South Atlantic Conference matchup with No. 19 Wingate (27-8, 9-3 SAC) winning game one, 5-0, and losing game two, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.
The Trojans used solid pitching and timely hitting to come out on top of game one.
Junior Laken Maxwell set the tone early, before being relieved due to a nagging injury. Maxwell pitched 1.2 innings gave up no hits, no runs and struck out two batters. Freshman Carson Hobbs (9-4) picked up where Maxwell left off, only allowing one hit in 5.1 innings while striking out four batters.
Senior Kayson Boatner went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Hobbs batted 2-for-3. The dagger for the Bulldogs was solo home runs by seniors Jessica Neadow and Olivia Wheeler. Neadow's was the first run of the game in the third inning with Wheeler's home run adding insurance in the fifth inning.
The Bulldogs regrouped for game two, outhitting the Trojans 13 – 6. Wingate built a, 5-0, lead after their top half of the fourth inning. AU's Neadow hit another solo shot to put the Trojans on the board. Hobbs two-out, two RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Trojans a spark, cutting into the lead, 5-3.
Wingate responded with a run in the top of the seventh inning. After retiring the first two batters, freshman Ava Worthy and senior Morgan Charter hit back-to-back singles, before WU's Raechel Cutcher was close out the game with the final out.
Anderson will travel to nonconference opponent on Tuesday. First-pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 12pm.
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