ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson baseball team recorded nine hits on the afternoon, but errors proved costly as the Trojans opened the 2012 campaign by dropping a doubleheader, 4-1, and , 6-1, to visiting UNC Pembroke Saturday afternoon at Anderson Memorial Stadium.

Game #1
UNC Pembroke 4, Anderson 1

Anderson threatened to take the lead twice in the opener but was unable to capitalize. The Trojans got two runners on base with just one out in the bottom of the first, but was unable to push a run across. And again in the sixth when Trojan third baseman Blake May led off the inning with a walk, but AU again was unable to get on the scoreboard.

The Braves, ranked 19th in the preseason by Collegiate Baseball, broke a scoreless tie with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning by capitalizing on a pair of AU errors.

UNC Pembroke senior Aaron Purnell opened the seventh frame by reaching on an error and crossed the plate two batters later on a sacrifice by Braves' shortstop J.J Williams, with the Braves adding a pair of runs with two outs. Freshman third baseman Jordan Edgerton doubled to left to score Dalton Knight and following a walk, Edgerton scored on another Trojan miscue.

Anderson capitalized on some errant pitches by Braves' reliever Braxton Lewis in the eighth, answering with a solo run in the bottom of the inning. Shortstop Thomas Padro drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch one out later. Senior right fielder Ryan Kirkland came through with a clutch two-out double to center, scoring Padro from second for what turned out to be AU's lone run of the contest.

The Braves added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning to set the final score.

UNC Pembroke outhit AU, 8-5, in the opener, with Kirkland finishing the game with a pair of doubles, while senior catcher Brett Scarberry added a pair of singles for the Trojans.

Junior hurler T.J. Estes suffered the loss for Anderson, going 6 2/3 innings and surrendering three unearned runs, while Knight and Brad Bridgeman each recorded a pair of hits for UNCP. Braves' hurler Brad Isom earned the win by tossing seven full innings and Lewis picked up the save.

Game #2
UNC Pembroke 6, Anderson 1

The nightcap saw UNC Pembroke plate four runs on three hits in the third inning and add two more in the fifth to jump out to a six-run lead after five innings.

AU trimmed the deficit with a run in its half of the sixth inning when Blake May ripped a one-out single to left and scored on Kirkland's double to left-center with two outs.

Freshman Landon Beck absorbed the loss for Anderson, while surrendering six hits and six runs (four earned), while striking out five in five innings.

Freshman left-hander Jordan DeLoatch garnered the win for UNCP, tossing six innings and giving up three hits.

The Trojans and Braves close out the three-game series Sunday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, with first-pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.