ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University Softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with rival Erskine College, winning game one, 4-3, while dropping the nightcap, 5-1, Monday afternoon at the Erskine College Softball Complex.

Anderson moved to 20-6 on the season, while Erskine improved to 16-8 on the year. The Trojans had won eight straight contests before falling in game two of the doubleheader.

With the split, the Trojans maintain a 4.5-3.5 lead in the coveted Beville Cup which has belonged to the Black and Gold the last three years and five out of the last six.

Game #1
Anderson 4, Erskine 3
Freshman Kasey Grant, sophomore Carli Hurtado and senior Molly Child each recorded two hits apiece to help the Trojans move past the Flying Fleet in game one of the doubleheader.

Erskine took a 1-0 lead after the fourth inning with Anderson responding back in the top half of the fifth scoring a run of its own. Hurtado led the fifth inning off with a single up the middle, stole second base while moving to third on an infield ground out by Child. Hurtado scored the tying run on a ball hit to the shortstop by sophomore Cailah Niles collecting her 31st RBI of the season.

The Black and Gold kept it rolling in the top of the sixth scoring three more runs to set their final total. Grant led the inning off with a single up the middle followed by a walk taken by sophomore Rachael Barefield. Freshman Michaela Smith sacrificed herself to move Grant to third and Barefield to second. Hurtado drilled her second triple in two days to score Grant from third and pitch runner Allison Oxner from second. Hurtado scored her second run of the game on Child's sacrifice fly to center field.

The Flying Fleet would not go away quietly, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Relief pitcher Randee Bettis, eventually being credited with the win, got into a jam and junior Lauren Rudesheim stepped in and struck out the two batters she faced in the inning to end the threat.
Rudesheim (10-2-1) stayed on and pitched a strong seventh inning to preserve the win for the Black and Gold, while earning her first save of the year. Junior Augie Pena (6-2) got the nod in game one and pitched four innings in the no-decision. Pena gave up three hits while striking out four. Bettis (4-1) grabbed her fourth win of the season.

Game #2
Erskine 5, Anderson 1
Child continued her hot hitting with a single and home run with the long ball proving to be the lone run for the Trojans in the nightcap.

The Flying Fleet took advantage of a huge fourth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and a walk, after seeing eight Erskine batters in the inning. Erskine added the fifth and final run in the bottom of the sixth to end Anderson's eight game winning streak against its nemesis.

Rudesheim (10-3) was credited with the loss pitching four inning, while giving up four hits and striking out two.

The Trojans continue their four-game road swing when they begin South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday at Coker College. First pitch is slated for noon at the Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field.