ANDERSON, S.C. – Needing two wins today to keep its postseason hopes alive, Anderson University Softball (34-15) responded in a huge way eliminating the Eagles of Carson-Newman (32-18) from the SAC Softball Tournament Championship Sunday afternoon winning game one, 4-1, and exploding in game two to win, 16-0 (5 innings) at the AU Softball Complex.
Game One
Senior Ava Worthy hit a sixth-inning grand slam from Ava Worthy to provide all the offense necessary to break up a pitcher's duel and force a decisive game seven for bracket number two in the opening rounds of the SAC Softball Championship.
The team's combined for six hits through the first five innings before the Trojans broke through in the top of the sixth.
The Trojans loaded the bases with three straight infield hits. Maddie Carpenter chopped a ball to third to lead off the inning before Shelby Bandt and Hannah Whitaker dropped down bunt singles to the pitcher and to first, respectively.
After a pop up to center, Worthy took drilled the grand slam home run off the foul pole along the left field line to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead. Carson-Newman responded with a lead-off home run to set the final score, 4-1.
The Trojans outhit the Eagles, 10-5, with sophomores Shelby Bandt and Lauren Brakovec each collecting two hits apiece.
Laken Maxwell (17-7) pitched the complete game scattering five hits while striking out eight.
Game Two
The Trojans hammered out 22 hits while crossing the plate 16 times to run-rule the Eagles and eliminate them from the SAC Softball Tournament Championship.
The 16 runs are the second-most Carson-Newman has allowed in school history, while the 22 hits are the most C-N has ever given up.
Anderson scored six runs in the first, two in the third and eight runs in the fourth inning to earn the run-rule win and advance to the SAC Softball Championship series final.
Eight Trojans collected two or more hits with Bandt batting 4-for-4, freshman Paige Vickery going 3-for-4 and sophomore Jenna Davis went 3-for-5. Senior Hannah Whitaker, juniors Maddie Carpenter and Maggie Nauck, freshman Lulu Luedtke, Brakovec each collected two hits apiece. Pinch hitter Kinsley Dunn got into the action picking up a hit in her at-bat.
Morgen Baker-Celis (8-4) pitched a three-hit shut-out. Baker-Celis struck out three and walked none.
Anderson will host No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday and Saturday in a three-game series to determine the SAC Softball Tournament Champion. The Bears eliminated Wingate defeating the Bulldogs twice to eliminate WU from the Tournament. First-pitch on Friday is still to be determined.
