ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Anderson softball dropped a pair of one-run games at nonconference opponent Claflin falling, 2-1, in game one and dropping game two, 7-6, on Sunday afternoon at North Road Complex.
With the setback, Anderson slides to 3-3 overall while the Panthers improve to 3-5 overall defeating the Trojans for the first time in the series history.
GAME 1 Claflin 2 Anderson 1
Despite a tremendous effort, in the circle, from junior Kayla Pepper, the Trojans could not produce enough runs to overtake the Panthers.
Sophomore Kayson Boatner went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Senior Meghan Majeski batted 1-for-3 while scoring the lone run for the Black and Gold. Sophomore Morgan Charter collected one hit to give the Trojans a total of four hits for the game.
Anderson struck first in the top of the third inning after Majeski singled followed by Boatner's two-out double. Claflin answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning using two hits and an error.
The Trojans went three up and three down in the fourth and fifth inning. With one out in the sixth inning, senior Mattie Hamilton reached on an error advancing to second on Charter's second single of the day. However, Claflin's Bre Chambers earned her seventh and eighth strikeout of the afternoon to end the threat. Chambers struck out the first Trojan of the seventh inning while forcing a pop-up and groundout to secure the victory.
Anderson's Pepper (0-2) gave up six hits while striking out 11 Panthers on the afternoon. Both runs were unearned.
Claflin's Chambers gave up just four hits, walked one and struck out nine batters on her way to picking up her first win of the season.
"We could never get the key hit we needed", said head coach Tommy Hewitt. "Kayla Pepper, with 11 strikeouts, pitched well enough to win."
GAME 2 Claflin 7 Anderson 6
Sophomore Sydney Belcher batted 2-for-2 with a double and a RBI whiel Hamilton went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Majeski, Charter, junior Mattison Cantrell and sophomore Gracie Williams each collected a hit with Cantrell providing an RBI.
Anderson scored three runs in the top of the first inning on one hit and three Panther miscues. Claflin answered back in the bottom half with two runs of its own.
Claflin tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a, 4-3, lead. The Black and Gold tied the game in the top of the fourth inning after Cantrell singled to start the inning. She later scored with two-outs on a Panther wild pitch.
After Claflin scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Anderson rallied in the top of the seventh to even the score at, 6-6. Majeski led off with a single followed by an RBI double by Hamilton. Charter singled advancing Hamilton to third with one out. Cantrell's sacrifice fly to left field tied the game. Claflin's two-out home run ended the comeback chances for the Trojans.
Junior Harlie Duncan got the start pitching six innings before being lifted in favor of junior Sarah Middleton (1-1). Duncan gave up seven hits while striking out three. Middleton was tagged with the loss after facing three batters.
Claflin's Jael Brown (2-5) earned the victory pitching the final four innings of action. She gave up five hits while striking out five batters.
"We went up, fell behind, fought back, tied it up and then gave up walk off dinger", explained coach Hewitt. "We had several opportunities and just couldn't produce."
UP NEXT
Anderson will travel to nonconference opponent Limestone on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 1 pm.
