JEFFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Anderson University baseball team wrapped up its South Athletic Conference slate by rallying twice and sweeping Carson-Newman, 8-6 and 6-5, Saturday afternoon at the Silver Diamond.
Anderson improved to 17-32 overall and 9-18 in the league, while Carson-Newman fell to 18-24 overall and 13-14 in the conference. Despite the setbacks, the Eagles will advance to next week's six-team SAC Tournament, while Anderson wraps up the season by playing host to Southern Wesleyan on Monday. First-pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Anderson Memorial Stadium.
Game #1
Anderson 8, Carson-Newman 6 (10 Innings)
Sophomore Brett Cash's second two-run homer of the day in the top of the 10th inning, and his first two round-trippers of the season, propelled the Trojans to the extra-inning victory. Cash finished the afternoon with three hits in five at-bats, while scoring three times and driving in four runs. Freshman Steven Cooper also blasted a two-run home run in the seventh inning, his third of the campaign. Junior Josh Hickman was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while senior Erick Sanderson added a pair of singles.
Junior Kyle Francis (3-3) garnered the win in relief, tossing three innings and surrendering just one run on one hit. The right-hander walked one batter. Ryan Fillers (1-3) suffered the loss for Carson-Newman, giving up two earned runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings of work. He walked one and struck out one.
Anderson took a 2-0 lead after scoring solo runs in the first and third innings, with Carson-Newman countering with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to claim a 4-1 advantage.
The Trojans evened the score at four apiece on Cash's first home run of the contest, a two-run shot in the fourth that also plated Paul Liggett, who led off the frame with a walk. The Eagles reclaimed a 5-4 edge with another run in the bottom of the sixth, but AU took a brief 6-5 lead in the seventh inning on Cooper's two-run homer that followed Hickman's lead-off walk.
But Carson-Newman evened the score in the bottom of the eighth by capitalizing on a walk and a single.
Neither team scored in the ninth, with catcher Jonathan Zalud drawing a one-out walk and scoring on Cash's second home run of the contest. Francis then retired the Eagles in order in the bottom of the 10th inning for the win.
Game #2
Anderson 6, Carson-Newman 5
Zalud was 2-for-3 in the nightcap, while scoring once and recording an RBI. Center fielder Stephen McKnight was also 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Cash added a double and a single and scored once, while Sanderson notched two singles.
AU's Thomas Goodman (4-4) garnered the win after giving up five earned runs and striking out three. Carson-Newman's Lucas Watson (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering one hit in 1 2/3 innings of work. Eagle starter Quinton Yocum was charged with all six runs on 10 hits, while striking out eight and walking two.
Trailing 5-2 heading into the sixth inning, Anderson rallied for
four runs in the top of the inning. Nathan Galliford led off with a
double to center field and one out later, Zalud singled to left,
bringing home Galliford. Tony Price and McKnight then ripped
back-to-back doubles to center, plating both Zalud and Price.
Hickman's one-out fly to center scored McKnight with the go-ahead
run.
