HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The second-seeded and 23rd-ranked Anderson University softball team bounced back from a disappointing loss on Thursday to knock off sixth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne, 5-3, on the second day of the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship, Friday morning at Byerly Park.

The Trojans, who improved to 36-12, overcame four errors on the morning and rallied from an early two-run deficit to earn their seventh win in eight games. Anderson will square off against the loser of the No. 1 seed Carson-Newman/No. 5 seed Newberry matchup Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.

Lenoir-Rhyne (32-19), which was ranked ninth in the most recent NCAA Southeast Region rankings, will find out its NCAA Tournament fate a week from Monday.

The Trojans stranded eight baserunners, but made the most of their three hits on the morning. Freshman Cailah Niles set a new school record with her 18th home run of the season - a three-run shot in the decisive second inning - while freshman Trudi Shuman posted a pinch-hit single and scored in the sixth inning. Senior Jessica Neidigh reached base three times with a single, a walk and reached on an error.

Sophomore Lauren Rudesheim (15-6) tossed her 15th complete game of the season, while equaling a season-high by fanning nine batters. She allowed three earned runs while walking just one.

Anderson loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but was unable to capitalize, while L-R took advantage of a walk, a pair of hits and an error to post two unearned runs in the bottom of the frame to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Trojans answered quickly by erupting for four runs in the top of the second inning. Sophomore Courtney Czentnar drew leadoff walk and came around to score on Neidigh's clutch two-out single to left. After junior Molly Child walked, Niles clubbed her three-run homer to give AU a lead it would not relinquish.

Ashley Oliver's leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth pulled the Bears within 4-3, but AU added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to set the final score. Shuman singled to right with one out, while Neidigh, Child and Niles posted three consecutive two-out walks to boost the Trojan lead to 5-3.