ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University baseball team be looking to get back in the win column when the Trojans visit 22nd-ranked Newberry for a three-game South Atlantic Conference series this weekend.
First-pitch for Friday night's series opener is slated for 6 p.m., while Saturday's twin bill is scheduled for 1 p.m.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (11-16, 2-7 SAC) at No. 22 Newberry Wolves (24-7, 8-1 SAC)
WHERE: Smith Road Complex; Newberry, S.C.
WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m. / Saturday, 1 p.m. (DH)
COVERAGE
Live Stats: AUTROJANS.COM
Video: AUTROJANS.COM
Audio: AUTROJANS.COM
THE TROJANS
Anderson (11-16) is seeking its second overall win in its' last three decisions and is looking to snap a four-game skid in conference action after dropping three close decisions two weeks ago at preseason-SAC favorite Catawba. Two of the losses to the Indians were by one run and the other was by just a pair of runs.
Redshirt junior Dillon Carpenter is back in the lineup and leads the Trojans with a .389 batting average on the season, while sophomore Trevor Weisner is batting .314. Fellow sophomore Will Lindsey has reached base safely in his last 14 consecutive games and is hitting .302 on the season. Senior Brandon Odachowski has belted four home runs and is tied for the team lead with 23 RBI, while redshirt sophomore Chandler Castleberry leads the squad with five homers and has drawn a team-high 14 walks and driven in 23 runs.
The senior trio of Will Gee, Christian Hendrix and Matthew Stanley each have two wins on the season with Gee owning a stellar 3.18 ERA through six starts on the mound. The right-hander has tossed a team-high 34 innings and has fanned a team-high 35 batters, while issuing just 11 free passes. Freshman Lucas Smith has made six relief appearances and has allowed just four hits in 8 1/3 innings and has yet to surrender a run. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native has struck out 15 batters. Junior Christian Carpenter is tied for the league-lead with seven saves on the season and owns a 1.86 ERA. The right-hander has walked just eight batters, while striking out 24.
LAST TIME OUT
The Trojans split a pair of midweek decisions by knocking off Southern Wesleyan, 3-2, on the road Tuesday night, then dropped a 12-6 decision to Augusta, Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium.
Castleberry was 4-for-7 at the plate in the two contests, with Odachowski going 3-for-9. Will Lindsey was 2-for-6 and drove in a pair of runs, while redshirt Dillon Carpenter added three singles and drove in a run in 10 at-bats.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
Newberry (24-7, 8-1 SAC), which was ranked 22nd in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll, was tabbed to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, after posting a 25-23 overall record last season and finishing tied for fifth in the conference standings with a 13-14 mark in league play.
Outfielder Danton Hyman and shortstop Colin Allman earned Preseason First-Team All-SAC honors, while outfielder Tanner Lane and pitchers Ryan Habin and Charlie Fessler captured Preseason Second-Team All-SAC accolades.
Hyman and Allman also collected Preseason All-Southeast Region recognition.
Junior reliever Quinton Driggers earned South Atlantic Conference AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 19, after going 2-0 with six scoreless innings pitched in wins over Lander and Kentucky Wesleyan. He scattered three hits, struck out nine batters, and did not issue a free pass.
Newberry has won five straight decisions and seven of their last eight outings, including a pair of victories over Erskine earlier this week. The Wolves are atop the conference standings and are a perfect 16-0 at home on the season.
THE SERIES VS. NEWBERRY
Newberry leads the overall series, 29-23, with the Trojans claiming wins in three of the last five matchups.
UP NEXT
AU opens a four-game homestand by welcoming longtime rival Erskine to Memorial Stadium on Tuesday. First-pitch versus the Flying Fleet is set for 6 p.m.
