ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University baseball team dropped a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to Newberry, 5-2 and 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

With the setbacks, Anderson (13-32, 6-18 SAC) was mathematically eliminated from the conference tournament, while Newberry (17-25, 11-13 SAC) took strides toward cementing at least the sixth seed in the event.

Game #1
Newberry 5, Anderson 2
Freshman second baseman Brett Cash was 2-for-4, with a walk and drove in AU's two runs, while senior Ryan Kirkland went 1-for-3 with his second triple of the season and also recorded a walk. Zach Reeves, Jonathan Romano and Erick Sanderson each added a hit for the Trojans.

The Wolves scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning, when junior Andy Vogel led off the frame with a double down the right-field line and crossed the plate on freshman Albert Bauer's single through the right side.

Newberry built its lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth frames, capitalizing on an AU defensive miscue to plate two runs with two out in the fifth and added the two in the sixth on the strength of a double and a pair of singles.

The Trojans rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, as sophomore Shawn Delmontagne led off with a walk and Kirkland followed with a one-out walk. Cash ripped a two-out single to center to bring both runners home, but Anderson was unable to get any closer.

Newberry junior Mario Rojas (5-3) collected the win after scattering four hits over eight full innings, while striking out four and walking just three.

Anderson freshman Landon Beck suffered the loss, surrendering three runs (one earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.

Game #2
Newberry 2, Anderson 1
Senior Thomas Padro had a double in two trips to the plate, while Kirkland finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Cash and senior Brett Scarberry also added singles.

The Trojans got on the scoreboard first, with Delmontagne reaching on a fielder's choice and crossing the plate on Kirkland's single to right-center in the second inning.

The remainder of the contest was a pitcher's duel, with the Trojans holding the narrow 1-0 advantage until the top of the seventh when Newberry capitalized on a pair of AU errors to push across two unearned runs and held on for the win.

Sanderson (3-5) absorbed the tough-luck loss, tossing his sixth complete game of the season, while giving up just two hits and two unearned runs.

Newberry freshman Alex Roberts (3-3) claimed the complete-game win, giving up just the one run off four hits, while striking out six.

Anderson will get back on the diamond on Wednesday, when the Trojans visit Lander looking to avenge a one-run setback suffered at the hands of the Bearcats at the Greenville Drive's Fluor Field back on March 28.