ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University baseball team, which has won four of its last five contests, opens a seven-game homestand by welcoming Limestone to Memorial Stadium for a rare Monday afternoon doubleheader, tomorrow. First-pitch versus the Saints is slated for 4 p.m.
Admission to Trojan baseball games is $5 - students, faculty and staff, along with members of the Trojan Club are admitted free of charge. No dogs are allowed inside Memorial Stadium with the exception of service dogs.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (18-24) vs. Limestone Saints (18-23)
WHERE: Anderson Memorial Stadium; Anderson, S.C.
WHEN: Monday, 4 p.m.
COVERAGE
Live Stats: AUTROJANS.COM
Video: AUTROJANS.COM
THE TROJANS
Anderson (18-24, 10-14 SAC) saw its' four-game win streak halted with a narrow, 5-4, loss to Mars Hill on Saturday, but has tied the Lions for the eighth spot in the South Atlantic Conference standings. With three games left on the league slate, the Trojans trail Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry, who are tied for sixth place, by two games.
AU has averaged more than 12 hits and nearly 10 runs per game over the last 10 games, while claiming wins in seven of those contests.
Sophomore Dillon Carpenter leads the Trojans and ranks 10th in the SAC with his .367 batting average, while standing third in the conference with his 48 RBI. Fellow sophomore Matthew Overton leads the SAC with 45 walks on the season and ranks ninth with 10 home runs, while batting .325. Senior Tyler Miller is riding a five-game hitting streak and is batting .325, while reaching base safely in 35 consecutive games. Jackson Strange has boosted his batting average 53 points over the last eight games to a season-high .311 and carries a 10-game hitting streak into the final two weeks of the regular season. Redshirt freshman Chandler Castleberry is tied for third in the league with 14 home runs and ranks seventh with 46 RBI.
Sophomore right-handed reliever Christian Carpenter leads the pitching staff with 18 appearances out of the bullpen and paces the staff with four victories on the season. Austin Todd and Will Gee each have three wins, while junior Matthew Stanley leads the squad with five saves.
LAST TIME OUT
The Trojans recorded 41 hits and scored 37 runs, while taking two-of-three from Mars Hill over the weekend and claiming their second straight series win over a South Atlantic Conference opponent.
Miller was 7-for-15 (.467) with five RBI on the weekend, while Carpenter was 6-for-13 (.462) and posted seven RBI in the three-game series. Overton was 5-for-11, with two homers, six RBI and three walks. Strange added five hits, including four doubles, with Castleberry going 5-for-14 and driving in seven runs.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
Limestone was tabbed to finish fifth in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 22-25 overall record a year ago and finishing seventh with a 10-17 mark in conference play.
The Saints (18-23) had won four straight decisions before getting swept by fourth-ranked North Greenville over the weekend.
Junior third baseman Chase Allen and redshirt junior shortstop Zach Piazza were named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-Southeast Region Team in late January, while also being named as players to watch in Conference Carolinas this season, along with senior outfielder/pitcher Matt Orth.
THE SERIES vs. LIMESTONE
The Trojans and Saints have met 65 times since the 1998 season, with Limestone leading the all-time series, 33-32.
UP NEXT
Anderson continues the homestand when Young Harris invades Memorial Stadium for the second time this season on Wednesday. The Trojans are looking for sweep of the Mountain Lions, after defeating YHC, 14-8, two weeks ago. First-pitch for the midweek contest is set for 6 p.m.
