ANDERSON, S.C. – Behind a five-run first inning, the Anderson University baseball team opened a five-game homestand by outpacing Southern Wesleyan, 6-5, in nonconference action Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium.
Anderson improved to 10-19 and claimed its second win in as many days, while avenging an earlier loss to the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan fell to 12-21 with its 12th consecutive loss.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Freshman Justin Helms was 2-for-3 at the plate, with a pair of singles and drove in a run, while junior Jackson Strange added a two-run double and a single. Redshirt freshman Chandler Castleberry reached base on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice, with Dillon Carpenter posting a single and a walk in five trips to the plate. Senior Tyler Miller doubled and scored in the second inning.
Junior right-hander Stetson Scott improved to 1-1 on the season after allowing four runs on eight hits in five full innings. The Clayton, Ga., native fanned three and did not walk a batter. Junior left-hander Matthew Stanley worked the ninth inning and earned his third save of the season, while surrendering a run on one hit. He struck out one batter and did not issue a free pass.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Southern Wesleyan's Quinton Bent belted a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to give the visitors an early advantage, but the Trojans opened their half of the first inning by sending 10 batters to the plate and scored five times.
Senior William Thomas led off with a single up the middle and stole second. One out later, Carpenter and Castleberry drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and Thomas crossed the plate on a wild pitch for AU's first run of the night. Sophomore Matthew Overton then drew the first of his two walks on the night to load the bases again and Jackson Strange followed by doubling to the gap in right-center to plate Carpenter and Castleberry, which gave the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish. Stephens' groundout to short scored Overton and Helms' single to right brought home Strange with AU's fifth run of the inning.
Miller led off the second inning with his fifth double of the season and crossed the plate when Carpenter singled to give the Trojans a 6-2 advantage.
The Warriors closed within two with a pair of runs in the fourth inning and after neither team was able to score over the next four innings, Southern Wesleyan crept within one and had the tying run at second with one out and at third with two out, before Stanley snared a hard-hit hopper and threw to Carpenter to end the game.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans won despite being out-hit, 10-7.
NOTABLES
• Jackson Strange leads the Trojans with seven doubles on the season.
• Dillon Carpenter paces the squad with 28 RBI.
UP NEXT
Anderson will play host to South Atlantic Conference preseason favorite Catawba in a three-game series this weekend. First-pitch versus the Indians in a rare Friday afternoon doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. The series is scheduled to wrap up with single game, Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.