MARS HILL, N.C. - The Anderson University baseball earned a split in a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Mars Hill, falling 13-12 and winning 10-0, Saturday afternoon at afternoon at Ponder Park.

Game #1
Mars Hill 13, Anderson 12

Junior Erick Sanderson blasted two home runs, his fourth in two games, but the Lions rallied for 12 runs in the final two innings to erase an 11-1 Trojan lead and won, 13-12, on Thomas Timmerman's two-out three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth. Anderson (10-25, 4-14 SAC) suffered its fourth consecutive one-run setback in the opener, while Mars Hill moved to 12-22 overall and 7-11 with the split.

Sanderson finished 3-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and scored four times, while senior catcher Brett Scarberry recorded his first homer of the season and was 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Senior third baseman Blake May had three hits, including a double, in six trips to the plate. Left fielder Jonathan Romano was 2-for-4.

Anderson steadily built an 11-1 cushion over the first 7 ½ innings, with pitcher JT Trujillo giving up just one run on three hits going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Mars Hill posted five runs in the frame to trim the Trojan lead to 11-6 heading into the final inning. The big blow was a grand slam beyond the center-field fence off the bat of Mars Hill first-baseman Coty Pate.

The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, as they posted four consecutive singles, with Sanderson leading off the frame with an infield single. Anderson pushed its lead to 4-0 in the third on the strength of a pair of two-out round-trippers, first a solo shot from Paul Como, then a two-run homer from Scarberry.

Sanderson led off the fifth inning by ripping the first of his two home runs down the left field line and following a single to left by Scarberry, senior Thomas Padro recorded his first home run of the campaign, giving AU a 7-0 advantage.

Mars Hill countered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Trojans answered with two in the top of the sixth, as Sanderson blasted his second homer of the game to center to give AU a 9-1 cushion.

Anderson claimed an 11-1 lead with two runs on just two hits in the eighth before the Lions began their comeback.

Josh Hickman scored the final run for the Trojans in the top of the ninth when he crossed the plate on a fielder's choice to make the score 12-6.

In the Lions' final at-bat, Pate hit a three run-home run to center to bring the Lions within two runs of the Trojans. Shawn Weber then walked and Matt Mayo was hit by a pitch to set up Timmerman's heroics.

Pate was 2-5 with seven RBI. Joey Belviso had two hits in the comeback while Timmerman recorded three RBI including the game-winning hit. Kyle Dietrich picked up the win (1-1) throwing the final inning for the Lions.

Trujillo went 8 2/3 innings and gave up nine runs on nine hits, while striking out eight and walked just one. Junior right-hander Jeremy faced three batters in the ninth, surrendering three runs off one hit, with freshman Spencer Earle (3-3) absorbing the loss.

Game #2
Anderson 10, Mars Hill 0

Sanderson tossed his first complete-game shutout of the season, scattering nine hits while striking out six batters to lead the Trojans to a 10-0 victory in the nightcap.

Tony Price homered to center field to put the Trojans on the board in the second inning. Anderson then scored five runs on five hits, including two for extra bases, in the third frame highlighted by a two-RBI double from Scarberry.

The Trojans added three more runs in the fifth inning on four hits. Padro drove in two of the three runs on a double to right-center. Scarberry ended the scoring in the Trojans' last at-bat by hitting a solo home run to center to make the final tally 10-0 in favor of the Trojans.

Scarberry went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. Padro accounted for a pair of RBI in the game. Sanderson (2-4) picked up the win on the mound for Anderson.

Belviso went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Lions offensively. Andy Runion (1-2) took the loss for MHC on the mound.

Anderson will get back on the diamond Tuesday, when North Georgia invades Memorial Stadium for a 6 p.m. first-pitch.