WISE, Va. – Anderson University Softball (25-7, 10-2 SAC) notched a pair of victories (8-5, 9-7) against conference opponent UVA Wise (22-12, 4-6 SAC) in 17 innings on the road Saturday evening.
"This is a special team." said head coach
Kelly Roberts. "I could not be prouder of how they fought the entire day. Our offense and defense played phenomenal all day. When out pitchers needed to step up in big moments they delivered. Two great team wins!"
The Trojans game out hot in game one with a double by senior
Carson Hobbs (Nicholson, Ga.) to put Anderson on the board in the top of the first. The Cavaliers rallied, grabbing a 4-1 lead late in the second. In the third, senior
Lauren Brakovec (Farragut, Tenn.) notched her sixth home run of the season to bring in a single run, narrowing the margin. Wise batted a single in the fifth to plate another before Hobbs evened the scoring in the top of the sixth after a single through the left side, driving in two Trojans. Entering the extra inning after holding the Cavaliers scoreless, the Trojans rallied three runs to secure the victory with junior
Kadence Barrick (Phenix City, Ala.) boasting a double to right center.
Hobbs went 3-4 at bat to lead Anderson offensively with a double and three RBI followed by Brakovec posting a home run for two RBI and going 3-for-5 at bat. Sophomore
Caroline Morgan (Silver Creek, Ga.) pitched 6.2 innings to earn her first victory of the season in the circle. The Silver Creek native recorded five strikeouts while only allowing three hits and one run for a 1.05 ERA on the game.
The nightcap started slow for the Trojans with Wise putting up two runs in the first before sophomore
Laney Price (Flowery Branch, Ga.) put Anderson on the board after a sacrifice fly for senior
Shelby Bandt (Ft. Valley, Ga.) to score. The Cavaliers added a third run in the bottom of the third before the Black and Gold rallied in the fourth to even the score. Brakovec doubled to left center for a single RBI followed by Price with a single to left center for the lead. Wise would not be denied, battling back with two rounding the bases to even the score at the bottom of the sixth. Neither team found the lead in the seventh, carrying the battle into extra innings.
The Trojans struck first with two runs including singles up the middle by Hobbs and senior
Kinsley Dunn (Central, S.C.), only to see the Cavaliers answer and knot it up once more. Anderson had the final say, however, capitalizing in the ninth with two runs to seal the extra inning victory.
Brakovec led the Trojans at bat, going 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI followed by Bandt who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Price batted in three Trojans to lead Anderson while going 2-for-3 at bat. In the circle, freshman pitcher
Kora Kilgore (Smithville, Tenn.) posted her seventh career victory after pitching 4.1 innings. The Smithville native recorded five strikeouts for an ERA of 4.85.
The Black and Gold travel to Winston-Salem State in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Tuesday March 31 for the final nonconference matchup of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
