ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson softball team opened their 16 game homestand with a doubleheader sweep, 6-5 and 3-1, over Augusta, Saturday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.

Anderson (7-3) used the long ball coupled with good pitching to earn two wins over the Peach Belt opponent, which fell to (0-10).

Game #1
Anderson 6, Augusta 5
In the first game, the Trojans jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first taking advantage of back-to-back walks and back-to-back singles. Lead off batter Carli Hurtado opened the game taking her eighth walk of the year followed up by Molly Child's free pass. Sophomore Cailah Niles singled to left field advancing the runners to second and third. Right fielder Courtney Czentnar hit a shot down the left field line for a two RBI single. Augusta's pitcher Kristen Mills retired Augie Pena while giving up a single to the next batter, freshman Michaela Smith. The Jaguars were able to work out of the jam minimizing the damage by stranding three Trojan runners to end the inning.

The second and third inning remained scoreless with Augusta making its move in the top half of the fourth inning. Jaguar right fielder Lindsey Stokes led the inning off with a walk. Anderson pitcher Randee Bettis retired the next two batters when the Jaguars sacrificed Stokes to second and Casey Rowland flied out to right field. Bettis walked the fourth batter of the inning setting up Augusta's third baseman Kristin Bagley's two-out three run home run to take the lead at 3-2.

The Trojans answered back in the bottom half of the fourth when freshman Kasey Grant led the inning off with a double to left center field. Hurtado recorded the first out of the inning on a ground out while Grant moved to third base setting up an RBI single by Child. The Jaguars made a pitching change, replacing Mills with teammate Paige Deschaine taking the circle. The senior pitcher was able to retire the side keeping the score knotted at three apiece.

The Jaguars were able to add two more runs in the fifth inning after Bettis gave up a walk and single to the first two batters she faced in the inning. Anderson replaced Bettis with junior pitcher Lauren Rudesheim who recorded one out before Lindsey Stokes' two RBI double to right center putting the Jaguars up 5-3. Rudesheim was able to retire the next two batters leaving one runner on base. Desigated hitter Pena led the Trojans' half of the fifth off with a solo home run to left field drawing the Black and Gold within one.

Augusta could not get anything going in its half of the seventh inning setting up the dramatic ending for the Trojans. Niles led the inning off by being hit by a pitch and later forced out at second on Czentnar's fielder's choice. Pena stepped to the plate and ripped her second home run of the day, a one out two RBI walk-off home run to claim the 6-5 victory.

Anderson's Bettis got the nod for the Trojans pitching four inning in a no-decision. Rudesheim (3-2) earned the win pitching three innings and striking out three.

Augusta pitchers' Mills and Deschaine split the duties, pitching 3 1/3 innings and 3 innings respectively. The Black and Gold handed Deschaine her fifth loss of the season.

Game #2
Anderson 3, Augusta 1
In the second game, the Jaguars got on the scoreboard first with a solo home run by second baseman Auburn Balcorta. The score remained 1-0 until the Trojans half of the fourth inning. Pitcher Pena led off with a single to center field eventually moving to third on a double by first baseman Rachael Barefield. Left fielder Trudi Shuman reached on a fielder's choice scoring Pena from third. Second baseman Grant picked up her first RBI of the day plating the go ahead run for the Trojans.

Anderson added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning on Barefield's first home run of the season. The 3-1 lead was more than enough for Pena who dominated the Jaguars hitters striking out 11 batters in a complete game victory.

Anderson's Pena improves to (3-1, 2) on the year while taking the loss for the Augusta was Haley Birkle (0-4).