ANDERSON, SC--The Anderson University baseball team came into this season wanting to win a Conference Carolinas championship, and while a conference tournament title is by no means out of the question for this talented young group, the Trojans came up short of winning Tuesday night as they dropped a game to local foe North Greenville University 4-1. AU got great pitching on the evening, as Marsh Kowalski went 6 innings giving up 3 earned on 5 hits with 3 K's and a walk. He was spelled in the seventh for senior closer Corey Welch; Welch was filthy, as he rang up 5 Crusader batters on no earned runs and no walks in just 3 innings. The only run conceded in Welch's stint on the bump was created on back-to-back throwing errors by the Trojan infield. But the damage done in third would prove to be enough, as AU could only muster a run on 5 hits for the game. The Trojans hit the ball hard all night long, but good fortune belonged to North Greenville and senior starting pitcher, Devin Vance. Vance got great defense from his infield as they turned 4 double plays; the Crusaders' ace did his part also as he struck out 10 AU batters, and gathered his first win and complete game of the season. The Trojans were led by centerfielder Derek Hipp at the plate, who manufactured the team's only run. Hipp went 1-4 with an RBI. The game was epitomized in the bottom of the ninth, as senior Blair Carson ripped a first pitch single into right and was followed at the dish by DH Trent Still. Batting righty, the switch hitter battled Vance into a full count in a nine pitch at-bat. Still put a charge in the tenth--a fastball; but a leaping second-baseman, Corey Hinton, snagged the ball out of mid-air and threw out a diving Blair Carson at first base for the Crusaders' fourth double play. Matt Hill drew a walk from Vance next. Then Josh Grubbs got aboard, as he took a 2-out Vance fastball to the thigh. But on the ensuing at-bat, Matt Hill flew out to center, and that was all. AU left six on base on the evening, but stranded 7 Crusaders on the pads. In the end, not for lack of effort, the Trojans weren't able to find a way to win. They will give it another go on Wednesday as they head down the road to stand off with Peach-Belt Conference opponent, Lander University in Greenwood, SC. First pitch is set for 6:00 pm. Complete Box Score