HICKORY, N.C. – Taking an early lead in the contest and re-tying the contest midway through, the Anderson University (19-23, 8-17 SAC) were unable to hold off a late charge from Lenoir-Rhyne (26-18, 13-12 SAC) as they dropped the first game of the series 7-3 on Friday, April 19.

Sophomore Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) and senior Carlos Hernandez (Maracay, Venezuela) were each able to record a pair of hits in the game, with Wells tacking on an RBI to his stat line. Junior Wesley Mann (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) and freshman Zach Stover (Powdersville, S.C.) also each tallied an RBI in the contest. Senior Ryan Brash (Aiken, S.C.) provided a brilliant relief effort to give the Trojans a chance at a comeback, but didn't receive any late game run support.

A pair of two-out singles in the top of the first, with a stolen base thrown in for good measure, gave the Trojans the early lead in the contest, one they would hold until the bottom of the second when LR was able to post two runs on the board with a long ball to take the 2-1 advantage.

That lead for the Bears didn't last long as the Trojans were able to jump right back into the contest with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to tie the game back up at two. LR however was able to post a run on the board in each of the next two innings, retaking the 4-2 lead. Anderson wasn't going quietly into the night as they were able to drive in a run in the top of the sixth to cut that lead in half and keep them in the game. However, a moonshot and a pair of RBI-doubles by LR in the bottom half of the sixth would put the game out of reach, giving them the 7-3 win.

The two teams return to action tomorrow, April 20, as they finish out their three-game conference series with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.