ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson (33-15) got a sixth-inning grand slam from Ava Worthy to muster all the offense necessary to break up a pitcher's duel and force a decisive game seven for bracket number two in the opening rounds of the SAC Softball Championship at the Anderson Softball Complex. 

AU prevailed 4-1 over Carson-Newman (32-17) to set up the winner-take-all matchup for the right to play in the championship series. 

Anderson broke up a pitcher's duel in the sixth.  The team's combined for six hits through the first five innings before the Trojans broke through in the top of the sixth. 

The Trojans loaded the bases with three straight infield hits.  Maddie Carpenter chopped a ball to third to lead off the inning before Shelby Bandt and Hannah Whitaker dropped down bunt singles to the pitcher and to first, respectively. 

After a pop up to center, Ava Worthy took advantage of the situation, clubbing a one-out, grand slam home run off the foul pole along the left field line to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead. 

The Eagles sparked in the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff home run from Abbi Martin (Gadsden, Ala.) to left, her first home run of the season and second of her career. 

Riley Sharp worked first base on balls to follow, but the Eagles left the tying run in the on-deck circle and were retired in order the rest of the way. 

Laken Maxwell dealt the complete-game win for the Trojans to improve to 17-7.  She scattered five hits and struck out eight against two walks. 

Emma Frost (Morristown, Tenn.) took the loss to fall to 18-4. She gave up seven hits and four runs, all earned, while fanning three. 

Carson-Newman and Anderson play a winner-take-all game for the right to play in the SAC championship series later Sunday afternoon.  A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloSB.