WINGATE, N.C. – Anderson University Softball (15-5, 1-1 SAC) split its conference opener with Wingate on the road Tuesday afternoon. The Trojans fell 7-9 to the Bulldogs in game one before securing a 5-3 victory in the nightcap to open South Atlantic Conference play.
"I am really proud of the energy and fight our team showed all day." said head coach
Kelly Roberts.
Game one had a slow start for Anderson with the Bulldogs holding the Trojans scoreless while tallying four runs in the first three innings. The Black and Gold, determined to close the gap, boasted two runs in the sixth and four in the top of the seventh. Senior
Lauren Brakovec (Farragut, Tenn.) recorded a single out to left field and sophomore
Chaney Crosby (Six Mile, Tenn.) sent two to the left side to tally two more runs.
The Trojans found momentum early in the second game, scoring on a wild pitch at the top of the first, followed by a single to left field in the second by senior
Jenna Davis (Anderson, S.C.) for Crosby to score. Freshman
Bella Harbour (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) also scored on a walk. The Bulldogs capitalized on a walk to earn their first run of the game in the fourth before Crosby batted a sacrificial fly for senior
Shelby Bandt (Ft. Valley Ga.) to tally the Trojans fourth run in the top of the fifth. Wingate recorded two more runs attempting to close the gap in the sixth before Crosby rounded out the Trojans scoring with a single to right field for one RBI.
Crosby led the Trojans at bat, going 2-for-2 with one run and two RBI. Freshman
Kora Kilgore (Smithville, Tenn.) pitched 5.2 innings for the Black and Gold to notch her fourth victory on the season, posting six strikeouts while allowing three runs. Senior
Carson Hobbs (Nicholson, Ga.) recorded the save, pitching 1.1 innings with one strikeout and recording just one hit.
"It's incredibly tough to come on the road in the SAC and compete, especially against a strong Wingate team, but our group never backed down." added Roberts. "After game one, the way we responded in game two says a lot about this team's toughness and belief in each other. That second game was a complete team win, and it's a great way to start conference play."
The Black and Gold return home for the weekend when they host Tusculum on Saturday, March 14 at noon and 2:00 p.m.
