ANDERSON, S.C. - Senior Bri Cason and freshman Cailah Niles combined for five home runs and 15 RBI on the afternoon, as the Anderson softball team swept a nonconference doubleheader with Emmanuel College, 12-1 and 9-1, Friday afternoon at a frigid Smethers Field.

With the temperatures hovering in the mid-30s and the wind chill around five degrees lower, Anderson improved to 11-3 on the season with its sixth win in seven outings. Emmanuel, in its first year of transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II, fell to 1-3 on the year.

The cold temperatures did not hamper the Trojan bats, as AU outhit the Lions 23-5 on the afternoon, including 12 hits for extra bases, while collecting seven walks in the two games. The Trojan pitching staff limited Emmanuel to the five base hits, including a pair of solo home runs and allowed just seven base runners over 10 innings.

Game #1
Anderson 12, Emmanuel 1 (5 innings)
Cason hammered two home runs in the opener and was a perfect 3-for-3 by adding a two-run single in the decisive fourth inning, while scoring twice and driving in five runs. Niles posted a pair of singles in the first two innings and added a two-run homer in the fourth inning, while also recording five RBI. Junior center fielder Molly Child reached base in all four trips to the plate, with a first-inning double, a single, a walk and was hit by a pitch. She crossed the plate three times. Sophomore Courtney Czentnar reached base twice on back-to-back walks in the third and fourth innings.

Sophomore pitcher Augie Pena improved to 5-0 on the season with a strong performance in the circle, as the right-hander tossed her second complete game of the season. She allowed one run off two hits over five innings, while striking out seven Lions and walking just one.

The Trojans scored in all four innings that they came to the plate, opening by scoring a run in the bottom of the first frame. Child pulled a one-out double to the gap in right-center and scored when Niles followed with a single through the left side.

Anderson tacked on three more runs in the second inning to claim a 5-0 lead, with Cason sparking the surge with a solo homer over the left-field fence with one out. Two batters later, senior Jessica Neidigh went the opposite way for a single to left and Child reached on a single up the middle. With both runners in scoring position, Niles brought both home by ripping a single down the left-field line.

After Pena set the Lions down in order in the top of the third, Anderson built its cushion to 6-0 on Cason's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.

Emmanuel got on the scoreboard on junior Kalen Callaway's solo home run with two outs in the top of the fourth, but the Trojans answered by sending 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning and erupting for six runs to take a 12-1 lead. The Trojan offense recorded three hits and capitalized on three consecutive walks, with Niles clubbing a two-run homer beyond the fence in left field.

With the 11-run cushion, Pena again retired the side in order in the top of the fifth inning, as Anderson earned its fourth run-rule win of the season.

Game #2
Anderson 9, Emmanuel 1 (5 innings)
Niles extended her hitting streak to six games by belting two home runs in the nightcap and added an RBI-double in the third frame, while finishing with four RBI. Neidigh was 2-for-3 and scored twice, with freshman shortstop Carli Hurtado collecting a two-run double in the fifth inning.

Sophomore Lauren Rudesheim (4-2) surrendered just one run on three hits over five innings, while recording a strikeout and not issuing a walk.

The Trojans jumped on top early in the second game, with Niles powering a one-out home run over the left-field fence that also plated Neidigh, who led off with an infield single.

Emmanuel quickly trimmed AU's lead to one when freshman Bethany Campbell led off the top of the second inning with a home run, but AU countered by manufacturing a run in the third inning to take a 3-1 advantage. Neidigh led off the frame with a double and scored one out later on Niles' opposite-field double down the right-field line.

With Anderson holding the two-run advantage, the Trojans scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning - all with two outs - to take the victory. Niles belted a solo homer, while Chelsea Jones and Rebecca Martin followed with back-to-back singles. Czentnar followed with a double to plate Jones, with Rachael Barefield and Cason posting back-to-back singles to bring home both Martin and Czentnar. Hurtado then ended the game with a two-run double to the fence in left-center.

Anderson has a four-day layoff before getting back on the diamond on Wednesday, Feb. 25, when the Trojans visit Young Harris. First-pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.