ANDERSON, S.C. - Using a 25-hit attack, the Anderson softball team opened an eight-game homestand by sweeping Georgia Southwestern, 13-3 and 9-3, Thursday afternoon at Smethers Field.
Anderson (25-5) ripped 12 extra-base hits on the afternoon, including five home runs, en route to winning their sixth straight decision. The Trojans have claimed 10 victories in their last 12 games and are one win away from equaling last season's school-record start. Georgia Southwestern slipped to 18-20 on the season.
Game #1
Anderson 13, Georgia Southwestern 3 (5 innings)
Junior Charlotte Sieber was 2-for-3 at the plate, including a first-inning grand slam, while junior Laura Jansky was a perfect 2-for-2 on the afternoon and added a walk. She blasted her fourth home run in the last six games with a two-out shot over the centerfield fence in the fourth inning. Sophomore Bri Cason was also perfect in the opener, adding a double and a pair of singles, while scoring twice and driving in a run. Junior Samantha Young recorded her third homer of the season with a two-run blast beyond the right-field fence.
Junior Bailey Smith (11-3) scattered seven hits in her 14th complete-game effort of the season, while allowing three earned runs. The right-hander walked two and struck out one. Junior Allison Pastor (8-6) suffered the loss for the Hurricanes, surrendering seven earned runs while striking out two and walking seven in three innings. Senior Logan Smith allowed six earned runs on six hits in an inning of relief.
The Hurricanes grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but Anderson countered by sending 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame, with Sieber's grand slam highlighting the seven-run inning.
Georgia Southwestern added a solo run in the top of the third inning to pull within 7-3, but the Trojans put the game out of reach with a six-run fourth inning. Jansky and Young each homered in the inning, while Cason laced a run-scoring double and sophomore Jessica Neidigh posted an RBI-triple.
Game #2
Anderson 9, Georgia Southwestern 3
Neidigh recorded three singles in four trips to the plate and recorded an RBI, while scoring once. Junior Danielle Swygert added a double and a single, while crossing the plate twice and Cason notched a double and a two-run single in the sixth inning. Junior pitcher Lauren Bell helped her own cause in the circle with a pair of hits, including a solo home run in the fifth inning. Abby Child was 2-for-4 in the nightcap, with Molly Child recording her fifth homer of the season, a three-run blast to right in the fourth frame.
Bell allowed eight hits over seven innings for her 15th complete
game of the campaign. She gave up three earned runs, while striking
out seven and issuing three walks. The Trojans worked Hurricane
starter Ashley Cavender (5-8) for seven runs off 12 hits in five
innings, saddling her with the loss. Freshman Morgan Emerson
allowed two runs off two hits over the final frame for Georgia
Southwestern.
The Hurricanes again posted a two-run first inning, but AU answered
by evening the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning.
The Trojans took the lead for good in the third inning, when Swygert led off with a double to center field and scored on Jansky's single to left-center. AU built a 6-2 advantage the following inning on Molly Child's three-run homer that sailed over the right-field fence.
Each team notched solo runs in the fifth frame, with Anderson setting the final score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Anderson returns to the diamond quickly, as the Trojans jump
back into South Atlantic Conference action by playing host to Mars
Hill on Friday afternoon. First-pitch versus the Lions is slated
for 2 p.m. at Smethers Field.
