ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University softball team came up short to Lincoln Memorial in the NCAA Southeast Regional Final by a score of 3-0 on Saturday (May 14) at the AU Softball Complex.
The Railsplitters jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly from McKenzie Henry. From that point on, senior pitcher Harlie Duncan settled in and pitched a great game for the Trojans, going 5.1 innings while giving up two earned runs.
Pitcher Emma Frost continued her great season for Lincoln Memorial, navigating her way through the tough Trojan lineup. In the third inning, after a walk from Gracie Williams and a single from Morgan Charter, D2CCA Region Player of the Year Kayson Boatner stepped to the plate with two runners on base with two outs. Frost was able to win the battle, getting Boatner out on a fly ball to center field.
Harlie Duncan kept the Lincoln Memorial lineup in check as the game entered the fifth inning and the score remaining 1-0. Olivia Wheeler and Jessica Neadow picked up a pair of base hits, followed by a hit by pitch from Morgan Charter to load the bases. Once again Kayson Boatner stepped up to the plate for the Trojans for a battle with Emma Frost. This time, with the bases loaded and two outs. Boatner was able to get good contact on a few foul balls, but Frost won the battle as she escaped a bases loaded jam to keep LMU ahead 1-0.
This proved to be the last good opportunity for the Trojans to mount a rally, as LMU answered with a pair of insurance runs in the following two innings to clinch the 3-0 win, and the Southeast Regional Championship. Lincoln Memorial will now face North Georgia in the Super Regionals.
The loss marks the conclusion of an historic 2022 season for Anderson Softball. This team was responsible for many great accomplishments, including coach Tommy Hewitt's 500th career win at AU. Kayson Boatner was named the SAC Player of the Year, D2CCA Region Player of the Year, and NFCA National Player of the Week on three occasions. Pitcher Laken Maxwell was named SAC Pitcher of the Year and D2CCA Region Player of the Year, while also setting the AU single season strikeout record with 248. Senior pitcher Harlie Duncan set the career record for most wins, finishing her historic career with 66.
With a record of 40-10 (20-4 in SAC) this will be a season that goes down in history for Anderson Softball, which included an outright SAC Regular Season Championship and the number one overall seed in the NCAA Southeast Region.
