ANDERSON, S.C. - Carson-Newman snapped a scoreless tie with an unearned run in the fifth inning and went on to defeat Anderson, 13-4, in the South Atlantic Conference baseball opener for both teams Friday evening at Anderson Memorial Stadium..
Anderson slipped to 3-7 overall with its fourth consecutive setback, while Carson-Newman improved to 3-5 on the season.
Sophomore left fielder Paul Como led the Trojans offensively with a pair of singles and a double and drove in a pair of runs, while scoring a run in the ninth inning. Sophomore Zach Reeves finished the night 3-for-5, including a pair of doubles and crossed the plate once. Freshman Brett Cash was 2-for-4 and also drew a ninth-inning walk, while senior catcher Brett Scarberry notched a sixth-inning double and has hit safely in all eight games he's started behind the plate.
Junior TJ Estes absorbed the loss, surrendering five runs in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out five and walking four.
The right-hander did not allow a base runner until issuing back-to-back walks in the third inning and did not give up an earned run until Eagles' first baseman Kyle Koeneman lifted a high two-run home run just beyond the fence in left-center, giving Carson-Newman a three-run lead in the sixth frame. The Eagles went on to score two more in the sixth to build a 5-0 advantage.
Anderson trimmed the deficit to just two with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Reeves led off with a double to left and scored on Blake May's first double of the season to left field. Erick Sanderson reached base after getting hit by a pitch to get two runners on base, but May was forced out at third and Sanderson was thrown out at second to complete the double play. After doubling with two out, Scarberry and Ryan Kirkland both scored on Como's single through the right side.
Carson-Newman added two runs in the seventh to claim a 7-3 lead
and erupted for sixth in the ninth before AU plated a solo run in
the bottom of the frame to set the final score.
Senior Robby Thigpen earned the win for the Eagles, tossing seven
innings and giving up three earned runs off seven hits.
Anderson and Carson-Newman will wrap up the three-game series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
