Box Score  

Harrogate, Tenn.----The second-seeded Anderson University Trojans won the 2014 Food Lion SAC softball tournament Sunday afternoon with a 5-0 victory over the third-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs. Anderson improves to 42-10 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 36-18 on the season.

The victory gives the Trojans the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Anderson ranked second in the most recent NCAA Southeast region poll. Wingate was ranked fifth in the most recent regional poll, and will likely receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The NCAA selection show will be Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Abby Child went two-for-three with a double and three RBI to lead the Anderson attack. Molly Child added a double, RBI and run scored, while Jessica Neidigh was two-for-four with two runs scored for the Trojans.

Senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) was two-for-two to lead the Wingate offense. Sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) went one-for-two with a walk for the Bulldogs.

Wingate got the leadoff hitters on in each of the first two innings, while moving the runner to second via sacrifices both times, but the Bulldogs could not plate a run.

Anderson got on the board in the bottom of the second. Courtney Czentnar started the inning with a double, then scored on a Wingate error to make it 1-0. The Trojans took a three-run lead in the third on Abby Child's two-run double.

Molly Child's RBI groundout in the fourth pushed the advantage to four, while an RBI single from Abby Child made it 5-0.

Katelyn Howser got the win, moving to 18-5 on the year. She allowed just two hits in six innings of work, striking out two and walking two. Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 24-9 on the year. She allowed four earned runs on six hits in four innings of work, striking out five and walking three.