MILLEDGEVILLE, GA. – Solid pitching and a 3-run blast secured the 6-2 win in game one for the Anderson University softball team, but the Trojans dropped the second game of a nonconference doubleheader, 3-2, to Georgia College, Sunday afternoon at the Peeler Complex.
Anderson (12-2) is off to its best start since the 2013-14 season which started 13-1 over the first 14 games. Georgia College moved to 4-7 overall on the season.
GAME #1
Anderson 6, Georgia College 2
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior Augie Pena led the way at plate going 2-for-3 while sophomore Kasey Grant batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Both junior Cailah Niles and freshman Ali Anderson went 1-for-2 with Niles drawing two walks and scoring a run. Freshman Mattie Hamilton made the most of her lone hit by drilling a 3-run shot over the fence to help secure the game one win.
Junior right-hander Randee Bettis (4-0) got the start pitching three innings before being lifted in favor of Pena (4-0). Pena pitched the final four innings giving up five hits, one walk while striking out seven on her way to the fourth win of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Georgia College scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second using a triple and single to go up 1-0. The Trojans responded in the top half of the third inning with four singles while pushing across three runs.
Georgia College threatened to have a big third inning with four hits of its own. However, Bettis was able to get out of the jam with only a lone run being scored.
With the score 3-2 heading into the fifth inning, Grant led off with a double while moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Meghan Majeski. Niles drew a walk with Czentnar recording the second out of the inning. Hamilton drilled her first career home run to moving the score to 6-2.
Georgia College made a little noise in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Pena was able to shut it down to take game one, 6-2.
Georgia College's Faith Flanders (2-2) took the loss after five innings of work. Flanders gave up six hits and six runs. Brooke Taylor pitched the final two innings giving up 2 hits.
GAME #2
Anderson 2, Georgia College 3
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Niles went 1-for-1 with a home run and three base on balls. HamiIton batted 2-for-4 with sophomores Brenna Hagerty and Michaela Smith each going 1-for-2 for the Trojans.
Senior Lauren Rudesheim (4-2) suffered her second loss of the season after pitching four innings. Rudesheim gave up four hits and one run while striking out three. Bettis was inserted in the fifth inning giving up three hits and two runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Georgia College held a 3-0 lead after five innings of play. The Trojans were able to get on the scoreboard in the top half of the sixth inning when Niles hit cleared the fence for her fourth of the season and 37th of her career.
The Bobcats could not get anything going in the bottom half of their inning. Pinch hitting for Shuman, Pena recorded the first out of the seventh inning. Smith was hit by a pitch advancing to second on Grant's single. Majeski hit into a fielder's choice erasing Smith from the base path while moving Grant to second. Niles drew her third walk of the game and fifth of the day to load the bases with two-outs. Hamilton's chopper to the shortstop was misplayed scoring Grant from third to pull within a run. Georgia College's hurler was able to retire Czentnar to end the game.
For the Bobcats, Kayla Price (1-2) picked up her first win of the season pithing a complete game. Price gave up seven hits and two runs while striking out two.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
Through just 14 games, the Trojans have surpassed last season's stolen base total (26-of-30) with 29-of-29.
NOTABLES
-With four home runs on the season, Niles has moved into third all-time in program history for career home runs.
-Majeski has stolen at least one base in 9-of the-14 games played and is 12-of-12 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Trojans return home to host Conference Carolina opponent Emmanuel (Ga.) on Tuesday. The first pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 4 p.m.
