ANDERSON, S.C. – Fueled by sophomore Dillon Carpenter's seventh-inning grand slam and a pair of homes off the bat of Chandler Castleberry, the Anderson baseball team wrapped up a five-game homestand by posting its second-highest run total of the season in its 14-8 nonconference win over Young Harris, Monday night at Memorial Stadium.
Anderson showed little ill effects of playing its ninth game in nine days, while improving to 12-21 on the season and finished the homestand with three wins. The Trojans have won four of their six decisions. Young Harris (19-15) has dropped two straight after posting a seven-game win streak.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Carpenter was a perfect 4-for-4 on the night, while driving in five runs on the strength of his grand slam and added a double and a pair of singles. The Charlotte, N.C., native also reached on a fourth-inning walk and scored four times. Senior Tyler Miller was a perfect 3-for-3, with a pair of singles, a double and reached on a walk. Freshman Tyler Berry notched a pair of singles and two walks and scored three times, with sophomore Matthew Overton going 2-for-3, with two singles and a pair of walks. Castleberry added a pair of two-run homers in five trips to the plate.
Senior Matthew Reitz improved to 2-0 on the season after tossing 2 1/3 innings in relief and allowing three runs on three hits, while striking out three. Sophomore Christian Carpenter earned his first save of the season after tossing the final 2 1/3 innings. The right-hander allowed just one single, while striking out two batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mountain Lions opened the game by scoring five runs with two outs in the top of the first inning, but AU countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, with two crossing the plate on Castleberry's ninth home run of the season.
The Trojans added solo runs in the second and third innings to knot the score at 5-5 and took a lead they would not relinquish by scoring three times in the bottom of the fifth to claim an 8-5 advantage. Castleberry's second two-run homer of the night propelled the Black and Gold to a 10-5 lead in the sixth inning. Young Harris closed within two behind a three-run seventh inning, but Carpenter's blast in the bottom of the seventh sealed the win for the Trojans.
STAT OF THE GAME
The 14 runs marked AU's second-highest run total of the season.
NOTABLES
• The 15 hits equaled the Trojans' second-highest tally of the year.
• The Trojans have recorded multiple home runs in nine games this season.
• Dillon Carpenter extended his hitting streak to six games.
• Tyler Miller is riding a five-game hitting streak.
• Miller has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games.
• Chandler Castleberry has reached base safely in 11 straight games.
UP NEXT
Anderson opens a brief two-game road swing at North Georgia, Tuesday night. First-pitch versus the Nighthawks in Dahlonega, Ga. is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bob Stein Stadium.
