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HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- The fourth-seeded Anderson softball team's
run through the 2010 Conference Carolinas softball tournament ended
Saturday evening with a 4-2 setback in the semifinals to No. 1 seed
Limestone at Byerly Park, but not before the Trojans earned two
wins on the second day of the tourney. Anderson (27-18) found
itself in the elimination bracket Saturday morning after dropping a
narrow 2-1decision to top-seeded Limestone on Friday night, but the
Trojans kept their stellar season alive by defeating the host Coker
Lady Cobras by a score of 6-2 in the day's first game of the
elimination bracket, then rallied for a heart-stopping, 4-2,
extra-inning win past Pfeiffer in AU's second game of the day. The
Trojans came away with a 6-2 victory in the opener, scoring more
than enough runs in the fourth inning for the win - all with two
outs on the scoreboard. Amber Sutherland beat out an infield single
and moved to third courtesy of two wild pitches and following a
walk by Elisa Sebastyan, Knox doubled, scoring both runners. Emily
Monteith banged out a double to plate Knox and center fielder Kasey
King recorded an RBI-single to close out the AU scoring in the
inning. Coker's Poole led off the home fourth with a home run, but
Anderson junior Alex Waldrop settled down, retiring three of the
next four Cobra batters. Coker trimmed the AU cushion to 4-2 in the
fifth when Rogers homered to lead off the inning, but senior hurler
Katie Van Gieson came in and shut down the Cobra threat. The
Trojans opened a 6-2 lead in the fifth on catcher Cameron White's
double that scored both Brooke Lucas and Emily Monteith. Waldrop
earned the win for Anderson, going four innings and surrendering
just two runs off four hits and collected two strikeouts. Senior
Katie Van Gieson tossed three innings of scoreless relief and
picked up a save, while recording four strikeouts, including the
final two Coker batters she faced. Coker's lefty junior Sydney
Greenwalt was charged with the loss as she gave up six runs over
six innings. Greenwalt struck out four hitters. Coker was led
offensively by junior Haleigh Rogers who went 3-for-4 with a solo
homerun. Freshman Jaclin Poole went 2-for-2 with a solo shot of her
own. Senior Anna Oswald also had a hit. Anderson compiled eight
hits in the game, including three from Sutherland who was 3-for-4
on the day. Senior Meredith Knox and junior Cameron White each had
a hit and two runs batted in on the day. Monteith and senior Kasey
King each had a hit and an RBI. Junior Kinsley Durham also had a
hit. Coker was eliminated from play, and finished their season at
15-25. The second game of the day featured a pair of brilliant
pitching performances from both starters, but Anderson senior
Meredith Knox stole the show by hammering a two-run walk-off home
run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Trojans a
dramatic 4-2 win past the eighth-seeded Lady Falcons. Anderson
opened the scoring with a solo run in the fourth inning when
Sutherland led off the inning by singling up the middle and moved
to third after swiping second on Sebastyan's sacrifice bunt. Knox
brought her home with a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Trojans
a 1-0 lead. Pfeiffer's Heather Nobles evened the score with a
two-out shot that cleared the center field fence in the top of the
sixth and the Lady Falcons took a brief 2-1advantage in the next
inning by striking again with two outs as Amber Johnson singled to
center, scoring senior Bryttny Kreshka from second. Anderson
answered in the bottom of the inning when junior Lyndsey Huitt,
pinch-hitting for Lora Daniel, ripped a one-out double to center
and second-baseman Kinsley Durham's two-out single scored Huitt
from second base with the tying run. The Trojan defense held
Pfeiffer scoreless in the eighth, setting up Knox's heroics in the
bottom of the inning. Sebastyan led off with a single and Knox
followed with the game-winning shot. Junior Casey Deer got the win
for Anderson, pitching all eight innings, and giving up only two
runs on seven hits, and racked up eight strikeouts. Junior Allison
Braswell got the loss for Pfeiffer, going seven plus innings.
Braswell gave up four runs on eight hits, and struck out one.
Pfeiffer's senior Kylee Nichols went 2-for-3. Johnson and Nobles
both had a hit and an RBI. Junior Sarah Waylock, Kreshka, and
sophomore Andrea Wagner each had a hit of their own. Anderson was
led by Knox, who went 1-for-2 with three RBI. Durham went 2-for-3
with an RBI. Sutherland, Sebastyan, Monteith, Huitt, and White all
had a hit each. Pfeiffer finished its season at 21-29. The third
game of the day saw the Trojans fall behind 4-0 early, but rallied
within two, as Sebastyan singled and Knox followed with a double to
left, with Sebastyan crossing the plate. One out later King lifted
as sacrifice fly to right to bring Knox home from third. Anderson
threatened in the final inning, getting two runners in scoring
position with no outs in the top of the seventh, but Limestione
hurler Emily Wallace settled down to strike out the side. Senior
Donya Cobb absorbed the loss for the Trojans, giving up four runs
on five hits in two innings, while Wallace earned the win for
Limestone. Wallace pitched seven innings giving up just two runs
and striking out five. Anderson had six hits, with Durham going
2-for-3 on the game. Knox and King each had an RBI. Sebastyan,
Sutherland and Duncan all had a hit of their own. Limestone College
sophomore Mallory Kuykendall and twin sister Kelsey Kuykendall each
went 2-for-3. Sophomore Jordan Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Freshman Lauren Myers went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. Senior
Kayla Hamalainen, sophomore Jenna Guse, and freshman Kirstyn
Burelson each had a hit of their own. Limestone advanced to the
Championship Game, where they will face Queens University of
Charlotte at noon Sunday.