ANDERSON, S.C.- No. 2 Anderson University softball dropped the opening game of the South Atlantic Conference Championship Series, 7-6 (8), to No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex.

After falling behind, 4-0, Anderson battled back to cut the lead in half, 4-2, after three innings of play. The Trojans continued to pressure the Bears scoring four more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to take a, 6-4, lead.

Sophomore Jenna Davis led the inning off with a triple while junior Maddie Carpenter followed with a triple, sophomore Shelby Bandt singled and freshman Paige Vickery tripled to drive in the fifth run of the game. The sixth run came on a sacrifice fly to right field by senior Ava Worthy scoring Vickery.

Down to its final three outs and facing a 2-run deficit, Lenoir-Rhyne scored two runs in the top of the seventh on a home run by Madison Primm. LR was able to retire AU in its bottom half of the inning to force extra innings.

The Bears used three hits to score their seventh run of the game and take the lead once again. Anderson was able to get out of the jam stranding two runners.

AU senior Ava Worthy hit a one-out single with pinch hitter Kadence Barrick reaching on a single before the Bears were able to retire the side and win Game 1 of the SAC Championship Series.

Senior Laken Maxwell pitched 7.0 innings giving up nine hits, six runs while striking out seven. Graduate Morgen Baker-Celis suffered the loss (10-5) after tossing the final inning. Baker-Celis gave up three hits while striking out one.

Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne square off for game two tomorrow. First-pitch is slated for 2 pm.