ANDERSON, S.C.- The Anderson University softball team swept a pair of South Atlantic Conference games on the last regular season home date winning game one, 8-2 while also defeating the Bulldogs of Wingate, 5-4 in extra innings on Saturday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.
NOTES
• With the wins, the Trojans improve to 34-14 overall with a final SAC record of 12-8.
• Wingate drops to 25-23 overall and 10-10 in conference action.
NOTABLES
• Freshman Ali Anderson went 2-for-3 in game two drilling her second home run of the season.
• Sophomore Kasey Grant batted 3-for-6 on the day driving in a run and crossing the plate twice for the Trojans.
• Junior Trudi Shuman picked up a hit and two walks on the day.
• Senior Courtney Czentnar added two hit and two walks while scoring a run for the Black and Gold.
• Freshmen Meghan Majeski and Mattie Hamilton and junior Cailah Niles each had a multiple-hit day. Hamilton hit her 10th home run of the season while picking up a walk and hit-by-pitch.
• Senior Augie Pena made the most of her hit today hitting a grand slam in game one to help lift the Trojans to victory.
GAME
Anderson 8, Wingate 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Anderson jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. Grant led the game off with a hit-by-pitch while Hamilton belted a ball off the top of the fence to claim the early lead.
• The Trojans held the Bulldogs scoreless for four innings of play.
• AU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second to push its lead to 4-0.
• The Black and Gold blew the game wide open in the bottom of the third. Hamilton led off with a walk followed by Niles single down the line. Czentnar drew a walk while Hagerty hit into a fielder's choice to eliminate Hamilton from the base path. With bases loaded, Pena ripped a grand slam to give the Trojans an 8-0 lead. AU held on to win game one, 8-2.
PITCHING
Senior Augie Pena (16-6) got the nod on senior day pitching her 12th complete game of the season. Pena allowed just five hits while striking out three.
Wingate's Rachel Weidner (13-11) started the game in the circle before being relieved after 1.1 innings of work by Aubrey Reep. Weidner gave up four runs on two hits while being charged with four wild pitches and two hit batters. Reep's pitched the remaining 4.2 innings giving up five hits and four runs.
GAME 2
Anderson 5, Wingate 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Anderson enjoyed a 4-2 lead heading into the sixth inning.
• Wingate scored two run in the top half of the seventh on a solo home run and a runner from third scoring on squeeze play to knot the game up at 4-4.
• Anderson worked its way out of a small jam in the top of the eighth inning.
• Hagerty was placed at second per the international tie break rule. After failed attempts to move her to third, Ali Anderson singled up the middle to score a hustling Hagerty from second to take game two, 5-4.
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PITCHING
Pena earned the start for game two of the doubleheader pitching 5.1 innings in the no-decision. Pena was lifted in favor of senior Lauren Rudesheim (12-4). Rudesheim gave up just one hit in the final 2.2 innings to help the Trojans complete the sweep.
Wingate Rachel Weidner (13-12) suffered her second loss on the day. Weidner gave up a total of 10 hits and four earned runs.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans batted a much improved .305 as a team in 2017 compared to the .265 team batting average a year ago.
UP NEXT
Anderson locked up the #5 seed in the SAC Tournament with today's sweep of Wingate. The Trojans are slated to face #4 Coker on Thursday. First is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Hartsville, S.C.
