ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University baseball team opened a four-game nonconference homestand by outpacing Benedict, 10-5, Thursday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Anderson improved to 10-12 on the season by snapping a three-game skid, while Benedict fell to 3-4 with its third loss in four decisions.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior shortstop Jackson Strange was 2-for-3 at the plate, with a pair of singles and also reached base twice on walks. Junior Cody Adams added a single and a double, and drove in a pair of runs, while sophomore Chandler Castleberry reached base three times on walks and scored twice. Classmate Trevor Weisner posted a single and a walk and crossed the plate both times. Matthew Overton and Brandon Odachowski each drove in two runs apiece.
With the Trojans using nine hurlers on the afternoon, sophomore Justin Helms (1-0) notched his first win of the season by tossing the sixth inning in relief. The right-hander surrendered one run on two hits, while striking out three Tigers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Benedict opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, with the Trojans knotting the score in the bottom of the first when Lindsey drew a one-out walk and scored on Strange's two-out single.
The Tigers countered with two runs in the second frame and held the lead until Odachowski hammered his fourth homer of the season over the left-field fence to even the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
Benedict regained a brief 4-3 edge by plating another run in the sixth, but the Trojans answered by sending seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and scoring three times and claiming a two-run advantage.
AU added a solo run in the seventh and three more in the eighth before the Tigers closed out the scoring with another run in their final at-bat.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
The Trojans scored 10 runs on eight hits.
NOTABLES
• Chandler Castleberry is tied for the team lead with seven multi-hit games.
• Trevor Weisner heads into the weekend riding a five-game hitting streak.
• Will Lindsey has reached base in 10 straight games.
UP NEXT
Anderson will get back on the diamond Saturday, when the Trojans play host to UNC Pembroke in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.