HICKORY, N.C. – Solid pitching and timely hitting helps propel No. 22 Anderson University softball (22-4, 5-1 SAC) past South Atlantic Conference foe Lenoir-Rhyne (22-9, 7-3 SAC), winning game one, 8-6 and game two, 7-5, Saturday afternoon at Bears Field.

"We played two solid games today with good pitching out of Harlie and Laken, said coach Tommy Hewitt. "Our run support was great today and for first time in a while we executed timely hits. We were bombs away today with Boat, Maddie, Hannah and Morgan all hitting home runs."

"These two wins were huge and will become more important as we get deeper into conference play, emphasized Hewitt. "This team has so much potential."

Both contests were a back and forth affair, with Anderson coming through in the late innings in both contests.

In game one, the Trojans were able to grind its way to a 5-5 tie after five innings of play. Anderson was able to tack on three more run over the final two innings to push its score to eight runs. The Bears attempted to rally, but Maxwell earned her second save of the season helping Anderson with the, 8-6, victory.

Of the eight game one hits, five were for extra base hits. Seniors Jessica Neadow and Kayson Boatner both ripped doubles, while Boatner, freshman Maddie Carpenter and senior Morgan Charter hit home runs.

Senior Harlie Duncan (9-1) picked up the win, tossing five innings. Duncan gave up nine hits and struck out four batters, before being lifted in favor of Maxwell. Maxwell pitched two innings in relief, giving up two hits and striking out five. The native of Bowden, Ga., earned her second save of the season.

Maxwell (12-3, 2sv) got the nod in game two. Maxwell gave up 10 hits over seven innings of play, striking out six.

With the score tied 4-4 after six innings of play, AU put together a solid top of the seventh inning to polish off the doubleheader sweep.

Sophomore Hannah Whitaker batted 4-for-4 with a double and home run. Boatner went 2-for-4, while Carpenter and junior Olivia Rose Wheeler drilled a double, apiece. Wheeler's two run double in the top of the seventh proved to be the game winning runs.

No. 22 Anderson returns to action on Wednesday when it host against SAC opponent Limestone. First-pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 pm.