Trojans Drop Series Opener at Preseason SAC-Favorite Catawba

Trojans Drop Series Opener at Preseason SAC-Favorite Catawba

SALISBURY, N.C. – Anderson senior hurler Will Gee held preseason South Atlantic Conference-favorite Catawba to just four hits over six innings, but the Indians slipped past the Trojans, 1-0, in SAC baseball action, Saturday afternoon at Newman Park.

Anderson slipped to 9-10 overall and 2-5 in the conference with its third setback in four decisions, while Catawba improved to 17-6 and 4-3, with its third win in four outings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior shortstop Jackson Strange led the Trojans offensively with two singles, while junior Cody Adams added a single and also reached on an eighth-inning walk. Sophomores Will O'Brien and Trevor Weisner, along with senior Brandon Odachowski each posted singles on the afternoon.

Gee (2-3) allowed just the one run over the six-inning span, while striking out seven batters and walking three Indians. Freshman right-hander Lucas Smith surrendered just one hit in two innings of relief for the Trojans, while fanning a pair of batters and walking one in his third appearance of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Adams and O'Brien led off the game with back-to-back singles, but AU was unable to capitalize and both teams threatened again in the second frame but each came away empty-handed.

Catawba notched the only run of the afternoon by sandwiching a pair of singles around Gee's second walk of the contest and took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Neither team threatened again until the eighth, when sophomore Chase Stephens led off the frame with a walk and Adams followed two batters later with another walk. Stephens moved to third on a passed ball, but AU was unable to push the tying run across the plate.

The Indians also threatened after getting two runners aboard with two outs, but also left the runners stranded.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans out-hit Catawba, 7-5.

NOTABLES
• Strange, Odachowski, Weisner and O'Brien all carry three-game hitting streaks into Sunday's doubleheader.
• AU left seven runners on base, while the Indians stranded eight.

UP NEXT
The Trojans and Indians are slated to wrap up their three-game set, Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.