ANDERSON, S.C. – No. 23 Anderson University softball (13-1) won its thirteenth straight game after falling behind, 9-3, in game two, eventually winning in five innings, 19-9, after knocking off nonconference opponent Le Moyne (0-2) in game one, 9-0 in five innings on Saturday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.
"Good teams find a way to win," said head coach Tommy Hewitt.
In game one, sophomore hurler Laken Maxwell (7-0) had plenty of run support, while pitching a stellar five innings. Maxwell faced 17 batters, striking out 14 while only giving up one-hit.
Senior Jessica Neadow set the tone, leading off with a home run to quickly put the Trojans on top, 1-0, with AU tacking on another run in the inning. Anderson exploded for seven runs in the third inning to go ahead, 9-0.
For the game, Neadow batted 2-for-3 with four RBI and two home runs. Senior Kayson Boatner batted 2-for-3 with a double, while senior Morgan Charter and junior Olivia Wheeler each doubled for the Trojans.
Game two begin with a bang with Boatner drilling a three-run home run to give the Trojans a, 3-0, lead. The momentum was short lived with the Dolphins scoring eight runs in the top half of the second inning and adding one more run in the third. However, Anderson rallied back blowing up for 10 runs in the bottom of the third and six in the bottom of the fourth.
Freshman Emily LaFoy (1-0) was called in relief of senior Harlie Duncan to win her first career game. LaFoy pitched 1.1 innings, giving up three hits and one run. Maxwell was called in to close out the game, pitching 2.0 inning, giving up no hits and adding a strikeout to her impressive game one total.
AU's Boatner went 2-for-3 with a double and home run, which was her 10th of the season and 48th career round-tripper. Boatner now sits alone in second place, breaking former AU standout Abby Child's (2014) 47 career home run mark, in both the AU all-time record book and the SAC record book. 2018 Anderson graduate Cailah Niles owns the record with a total of 63 home runs.
Junior Hope Gullatt and senior Sydney Belcher picked up two hits, including a double. Gullatt drove in five runs with Belcher knocking in two.
Anderson returns to action on Sunday when it host nonconference opponent USC Aiken. First-pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 pm.
