Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Baseball Drops Series Finale at Coker, 3-2

Baseball Drops Series Finale at Coker, 3-2
Box score

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Despite a fourth inning solo home run by catcher Travis Smith, Anderson University baseball fell short of the series sweep, as Coker defeated the Trojans 3-2 in South Atlantic Conference action Sunday afternoon at Tom J. New Field.

With the setback, AU falls to an even 9-9 record, including a 7-5 mark in league play, as it snaps a brief two-game winning streak following its pair of wins over the Cobras on Saturday.

Smith and designated hitter LJ Newman totaled three hits apiece, as Newman posted a trio of three-hit games for the series with three singles in the series finale. Smith launched his third home run of the season to lead off the top of the fourth inning, while adding two singles to close the contest.

The Bernardo brothers of Garrett and Nick tallied two hits apiece, as Garrett Bernardo notched one of three AU doubles on the day while Nick Bernardo knocked a triple following Smith's homer in the fourth inning. First baseman Steven Cooper and shortstop Brett Cash each posted a double on the day for the tandem's lone hits for the day.

As a team, Anderson out-hit the home side 12-8, but left 10 runners on the base for the nine-inning contest. With the game deadlocked at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Coker took advantage of two Trojan fielding errors and crossed the walk-off run on a Bryson Connor single. For Connor, the game-winning single was his third hit of the game, which led the Cobras.

On the mound, right-hander starter Spencer Earle completed 6.1 innings and struck out four Coker hitters. Right-handed reliever Chris Ayers followed Earle and completed 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit while totaling three strikeouts.

The Black and Gold return to action on Tuesday when they head to non-conference rival Limestone. First pitch from Gaffney is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Season Outlook: Baseball
January 21, 2015 Season Outlook: Baseball
Baseball Unveils 2015 Schedule
November 12, 2014 Baseball Unveils 2015 Schedule