HICKORY, N.C. - The Anderson baseball team was limited to five hits as the Trojans opened a three-game South Atlantic Conference series with an 8-1 setback to Lenoir-Rhyne Friday night at Bears Field.

Anderson (5-17, 1-9 SAC) dropped its fifth consecutive decision, while Lenoir-Rhyne improved to 6-16 overall and 2-8 in the league by halting a seven-game skid with the win.

Sophomore Nathan Galliford recorded a hit and a walk for the Trojans, while freshman Steven Cooper, Paul Como, Chris Ayers and Ben Pendleton each recorded hits on the afternoon.

Sophomore right-hander JT Trujillo (2-3) suffered the loss for the Trojans, surrendering eight earned runs on 11 hits, while striking out two and walking two over 6 1/3 innings.

Eric Ryan (1-3) garnered the win for Lenoir-Rhyne, scattering five hits over seven innings, while giving up one earned run and striking out eight.

The Bears scored in each of the first four innings, posting solo runs in the first and second frames and taking a 5-0 lead with two runs in the third inning and another run in the fourth.

The Trojans avoided the shutout with a run in the top of the seventh, when senior Erick Sanderson was hit by a pitch with one out. He moved to second on Galliford's single to right and to third when Como followed with another single to right. Sanderson crossed the plate as pinch-hitter Shawn Delmontagne drew a bases-loaded walk.

But the Bears answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to set the final score.

The two teams conclude their three-game set with a doubleheader slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.