ANDERSON, S.C.- Down to its final three outs, No. 2 Anderson University softball hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to come from two runs down avoiding the upset by the No. 7 seed Lincoln Memorial on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the South Atlantic Conference Championship, defeating the Railsplitters, 4-2, at the AU Softball Complex.

Neither team could cross the dish until the Railsplitters plated two runs in the top of the fifth inning on Jordann Reagan's two RBI double to center field.

Anderson threatened in the second, third and fourth innings leaving a total of eight runners stranded during that span. After leaving another run stranded in the sixth inning, the Black and Gold were down two and down to the final three outs.

Junior Maddie Carpenter led the inning off with a ball driven deep to right center with LMU's Madison Henry making the catch against the fence. AU's Carson Hobbs cut the lead in half with a solo shot to right center, followed by senior Hannah Whitaker's blast over the scoreboard to tie the game at two apiece. Freshman Paige Vickery drew a walk setting the stage for senior Ava Worthy's two-run walk-off home run to keep the Trojans in the winner's bracket.

The Trojans outhit LMU, 10-7, with AU committing one error. Hobbs went 3-for-4 with a double and home run while freshman Lulu Luedtke batted 2-for-3.

Laken Maxwell got the start pitching five innings. Maxwell gave up six hits while striking out five batters. Hobbs (6-2) pitched the final two innings giving up just one hit and earning her sixth win of the season.

Anderson will play No. 3 Carson-Newman who defeated No. 6 Newberry in walk-off fashion. Gametime is scheduled for 12 pm at the AU Softball Complex.