Greeneville, Tenn.--Anderson got a solo home run from Kayson Boatner in the bottom of the 6th to help the Trojans to battle back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Bears 5-4 in Friday's SAC Quarterfinal held at Tusculum University. The Bears had the bases loaded with one out in the 7th but could not push across the game-tying run.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game Final: Anderson 5, Lenoir-Rhyne 4
Records: Anderson (29-10, 16-8 SAC) | Lenoir-Rhyne (17-16, 13-9 SAC)
Location: Red Edmonds Field | Greeneville, Tenn.
STATS OF GAME:
- Kylee Leonhardt got the Bears on the board with a solo home run to right field with two outs in the third inning.
- Anderson's Gracie Williams tied the game with a two-out single in the bottom of the 4th.
- Bears broke the game open with a three-run 5th inning. Lora Beth Wood drew a bases-loaded walk then Lauren Rakes singled up the middle to drive in two runs.
- Morgan Beeler got the start and threw four plus innings allowing three runs in the no-decision.
- The Trojans responded with a three-run 5th of their own. All three runs were scored with two outs for the Trojans.
- Anderson grabbed their first lead of the day with a Boatner home run in the bottom of the 6th.
- LR loaded with bases with one out in the 7th but Laken Maxwell got Rakes to strike out and Kendall Osborne to foul out to end the game.
- Rakes (7-7) took the loss in the circle allowing the home run in the 6th.
- Bears left nine runners on base in the game.
- Rakes and Leonhardt each had three hits for the Bears.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The last time the SAC tournament was held at Greeneville, these two teams faced off in the SAC Championship game in 2012 and LR's Jody Mizelle hit a walk-off home run to give the Bears their third straight SAC Tournament Championship.
- Bears have now lost five straight SAC tournament games.
- Bears fall to 61-41 all-time in SAC tournament play.
- Bears are now 3-2 against Anderson in SAC tournament play after today's loss.
- Rakes finished the season hitting .538 with a HR, 2 doubles, and 7 RBIs in her last four games at the plate.