Jefferson City, Tenn. – Anderson University softball won a pair of elimination games to advance to championship Saturday at the NCAA Southeast Regionals hosted by Carson-Newman at Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Field

The Trojans held off the sixth-seeded Bulldogs from Wingate, 2-1, then defeated second-seeded Carson-Newman, 8-5.

Anderson 2     Wingate 1

Anderson used a single by junior Mattie Hamilton and an error to push across a run in the first inning and carried the 1-0 lead through five innings of play. The Trojans defense dodged multiple scoring opportunities by the Bulldogs, while adding an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on freshman Morgan Charter's double, scoring Hamilton from first.

Wingate's Haley Cashwell led the seventh inning off with a solo shot to left to close the gap, but sophomore Kayla Pepper retired the next three batters to end the threat.

Pepper (16-13) gave up six hits and one run while striking out four.

Anderson 8     Carson-Newman 5

The Black and Gold knocked Eagle starter Lacie Rinus out of the game drilling five-hits and crossing the plate five times in the first inning of action. Anderson then had the opportunity to face Allison Rager which enjoyed a five-inning, no-hitter victory in the opening game over AU. The Trojans were able to add two runs in the third and a solo run in the fourth to build an 8-1 lead.

Carson-Newman pushed across three runs in the fifth inning to give them new life. Sophomore Harlie Duncan was lifted in favor of Pepper to close out the game after giving up two hits and one run in two innings of work.

Duncan (17-8) picked up the win giving up eight hits, while striking out three in five innings of work.

Anderson will face SAC foe Lincoln Memorial and must defeat the Railsplitters twice to advance to the Super Regionals. First-pitch is set for a tentative 10 am start due to a threat of inclement weather in Jefferson City, Tenn.