HICKORY, N.C.- The Anderson University softball team dropped a pair of South Atlantic Conference game against Lenoir-Rhyne losing game one, 4-3 (9 innings) while falling in the night cap, 11-3 on Saturday afternoon at the LR Softball Field.
NOTES
• With the sweep, the Trojans fall to 30-12 overall and 8-6 in SAC play.
• Lenoir-Rhyne moves to 37--8 overall and 9-3 in conference action.
NOTABLES
• Sophomore Kasey Grant went 3-for-4 in game one with three singles and a run scored.
• Freshman Mattie Hamilton batted 2-for-3 in game two for the Trojans.
• Junior Cailah Niles ripped a double and a home run recording two RBI and a run scored.
• Senior Courtney Czentnar collected two hits on the day crossing the plate once for the Black and Gold.
GAME 1 (9 innings)
Anderson 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning holding AU scoreless through four innings of play.
• Anderson knotted the game up at one apiece in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Michaela Smith led off with a double to center field. Junior Trudi Shuman singled down the right field line to move Smith third. Grant loaded the bases with a bunt single. Anderson's Hamilton drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Smith from third.
• The Trojans scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to go ahead, 3-1.
• The Bears rallied back in their final three-outs scoring two runs on a two-run home run by LR's Erin Boone. Senior Augie Pena was able to get the next batter to fly out to center while striking out the following batter to retire the side.
• After a scoreless eighth inning, LR was able to set down the first three AU batters in the ninth inning while pushing across the winning run in their half of the ninth on a sacrifice fly.
PITCHING
Junior Randee Bettis got the nod in game one pitching two innings before being lifted in favor of Pena (13-5). Pena pitched 6.2 innings giving up five hits while striking out six.
LR's Sydney Miller (9-4) received the call for the Bears pitching all nine innings. Miller gave up seven hits while striking out six on her way to her ninth win of the season.
GAME 2 (6 innings)
Anderson 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 11
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Anderson dug itself into a hole giving up four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
• The Black and Gold were able to cut the lead in half using Niles's 13th home run of the season and a run scored by Czentnar.
• Lenoir-Rhyne tacked on two more runs in the third inning and another in the fifth inning to claim the 7-2 lead with four innings to go.
• AU added another run to its side in the top of the sixth taking advantage of a hit and a couple of Bears miscues.
• The Bears picked up four runs in the sixth inning to end the game, 11-3.
PITCHING
Bettis (6-3) toed the rubber for the game two start pitching one inning before being replaced by senior Lauren Rudesheim. Bettis gave up three hits and four runs in the loss. Rudesheim pitched 4.2 innings givng up 10 hits in the no-decision.
Lenoir-Rhyne's Sydney Miller (10-4) pitched a complete game win giving up just four hits for her tenth win of the season
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The doubleheader sweep (loss) was the first for the Trojans all season.
UP NEXT
Anderson remains on the road to continue its six-game road swing at SAC opponent Tusculum on Tuesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m.
