Anderson, S.C.----The Anderson University Trojans picked up a pair of victories over visiting Wingate University Saturday afternoon, prevailing 8-2 in game one and 5-4 in eight innings in game two of a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader. The Trojans improve to 34-14 overall and 12-8 in the SAC, while Wingate falls to 25-23 overall and 10-10 in league play.
Game One: Anderson 8, Wingate 2
Mattie Hamilton and
Augie Pena each homered to lead the Anderson attack in game one, combining to drive in six runs.
Kasey Grant and
Michaela Smith each added an RBI for the Trojans.
Senior infielder
Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) homered to lead the Wingate offense. Freshman catcher
Jordan Floyd (Wilmington, N.C.) added a double and an RBI, while classmate
Emma Swenson (Matthews, N.C.) contributed a double and a run scored.
Hamilton's two-run homer in the second put the Trojans on the board. Sacrifice flies from Smith and Grant in the third put Anderson on top 4-0.
The Trojans took an 8-0 lead in the fourth when Pena connected on a grand slam.
Wingate got on the board in the fifth when Doran led off the frame with sixth homer of the year. Swenson reached on a two-out double in the sixth, then scored on Floyd's RBI double to make the final margin 8-2.
Pena got the win, moving to 16-6 on the year. She allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings of work, striking out three and walking three. Sophomore right-hander
Rachel Weidner (Greenville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 13-11 on the season. She allowed four runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings, walking two.
Game Two: Anderson 5, Wingate 4 (8 innings)
Ali Anderson had a homer and two RBI to lead the Anderson offense in game two, while
Breanna Hagerty added two RBI and a run scored.
Cailah Niles had a hit and an RBI for the Trojans.
Senior infielder
Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Swenson was three-for-four with a double, RBI and run scored, while freshman
Rebekah Woods (Sylvania, Ga.) also drove in a run for the Bulldogs.
Coyne reached on a two-out single in the first, then scored on McLaurin's RBI single to give the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead. A Niles sacrifice fly and Hagerty RBI groundout in the bottom of the frame put Anderson on top 2-1.
Hagerty gave the Trojans a 3-1 advantage in the third with a sacrifice fly. Wingate cut into the lead in the fourth on Swenson's RBI double.
Anderson's solo homer in the bottom of the fourth put the Trojans on top 4-2. McLaurin led off the sixth with her sixth homer of the season to make it a one-run game. Swenson followed with a single, then scored on an RBI groundout from Woods to make it 4-4.
That was all of the scoring until the bottom of the eighth. With a runner on second and two outs, Anderson delivered the game-winning RBI single to give the Trojans the 5-4 victory. Wingate is now 1-6 in extra-inning games this season.
Lauren Rudesheim got the win, moving to 12-4 on the year. She tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just one hit. Weidner took the loss, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking two.
Next up for the Bulldogs is the SAC Tournament, where Wingate will be the six seed. The tournament begins Thursday in Hartsville, S.C.
