ANDERSON, S.C. - After dropping the opening game of the three-game series on Friday, Anderson University used two complete games from right-handers Thomas Goodman and Landon Beck to capture the South Atlantic Conference series over Lenoir-Rhyne, 4-3 and 8-7, Saturday afternoon at Anderson Memorial Stadium.
With the victory, the Trojans have won five of their last six contests and move to 16-24 overall and 11-12 in conference play, while L-R falls to 11-28 on the year and 7-18 for the league. AU earned its 10th and 11th wins at the friendly confines of Anderson Memorial Stadium.
The home side used just two pitchers for the doubleheader as Goodman kicked off the day with his second complete game of the season, tossing nine innings and striking out five Bears while allowing just two earned runs. With the win, the senior moved to an even 3-3 on the year in his 10th start this season.
Following the performance by Goodman, Beck followed with his fifth complete game of the season, completing seven innings and striking out five Lenoir-Rhyne batters. With the five punch-outs, Beck increased his strikeout total to a team-high 68 on the year.
To go along with two stellar performances on the hill, the Trojans tallied 21 hits for the doubleheader, including a 14-hit tally in the seven-inning, 8-7 win in the second-half of the twin bill. After the first seven hitters in the Anderson lineup each posted a single hit for the first game of the day, sophomore second baseman Kyle Bailey and sophomore designated hitter LJ Newman each recorded three hits to propel the Trojans to the narrow victory, completing the series win.
The quartet of Bailey, Newman, senior outfielder Josh Hickman and sophomore first baseman Steven Cooper combined for six doubles in the second game, while senior right fielder Paul Como smashed his third home run of the season down the left-field line en route to the win in game two. The Trojans crossed four runs in the second inning and followed the outburst with a single run in the next four frames for the victory. Eight of the nine Anderson hitters recorded an RBI for the game.
Earlier, in the 4-3 win, AU totaled four extra-base hits, headlined by senior Nathan Galliford's team-high 12th home run of the season to open the game's scoring the second inning. Junior shortstop Brett Cash immediately followed the homer with a triple to centerfield, for his first three-bagger of the 2014 campaign. The middle infielder would eventually score on an L-R error.
Cooper and sophomore Garrett Bernardo each added doubles in the first game of the day, as Cooper regained the team-lead in the doubles category away from Como with 16 for the season.
Lenoir-Rhyne was led by center fielder Brandon Walker with four hits for the day, including a three-hit performance in game two. Two-way player Ivan Vieitez, who earned the start on the mound in the first game, recorded three hits, increasing his batting average to .412 this season.
Anderson returns to the diamond on Tuesday when it welcomes in-state rival Lander to Anderson Memorial Stadium. First pitch against the Bearcats is scheduled for 6 p.m.
