SALISBURY, N.C. - Juniors Laura Jansky and Abby Child combined to record six hits, including two home runs, and drove in eight runs to lead the Anderson softball team to a sweep past Catawba, 3-1 and 11-2, in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Whitley Field.
Anderson improved to 23-5 overall and 4-2 in the conference, with its fourth consecutive victory and has won six of its last eight games. Catawba fell to 19-11overall and 1-3 in the league with its third straight setback.
Game #1
Anderson 3, Catawba 1
Child was 1-for-4 in the opener with a three-run home run, her team-leading sixth of the season, while sophomore Jessica Neidigh added a pair of singles in four trips to the plate.
Junior Lauren Bell (13-2) tossed her 14th complete game of the season to earn the win, striking out eight Indians and walking just two. The right-hander scattered three hits over the seven innings and allowed just three batters to reach second base.
Catawba freshman pitcher Carley Tysinger (13-4) took the loss, while allowing just four hits and fanned 13.
The Trojans threatened in the first inning, but were unable to capitalize on Neidigh's lead-off single, however Child erased a 1-0 deficit with her three-run homer over the left-centerfield fence in the third inning. Bell was hit by a pitch to open the inning and Neidigh reached on a bunt single. After a strikeout, Child blasted her home run on a full-count offering.
After surrendering the first-inning run, Bell limited the Indians to just a pair of singles over the final six innings. The tying run reached base in Catawba's final at-bat, but Bell posted a strikeout and ground out to end the contest.
Game #2
Anderson 11, Catawba 2
Sophomore third baseman Bri Cason was 2-for-3, with a double and added a walk in the nightcap, while Jansky was 2-for-4, with her fifth homer of the season and drove in five runs. Junior Samantha Young added a single and an RBI-double, with Abby Child recording two hits and three runs scored. Junior Bailey Smith helped her cause in the circle with a pair of hits and an RBI. Junior Danielle Swygert recorded two RBI and Neidigh crossed the plate twice.
Smith (10-3) notched her 13th complete game, while allowing seven hits, including a pair of solo home runs to leadoff hitter Amanda Terry. The right-hander struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Tysinger also absorbed the loss in game two, allowing five runs on three hits and walked one without recording an out. Emily Hunneycutt threw seven innings of relief, while surrendering six runs (two earned) and striking out three, while issuing three walks.
Anderson jumped on Tysinger for five runs in the first inning,
as the Trojans batterd around with the first six batters reaching
baser. Swygert singled home two runs and Jansky doubled home two
more for a 4-0 lead. Young plated the final run of the frame with a
single through the right side.
The Trojans added four more runs in the sixth inning. Jansky
connected on a two-run homer and Young capped the frame with a
run-scoring double. Both Catawba runs came on the solo home runs
from Terry. Michaela Boyd also had two hits for the Lady
Indians.
The Trojans return to action on Thursday by playing host to
Georgia Southwestern at Smethers Field. First-pitch is scheduled
for 3 p.m.
