ANDERSON, S.C. - Wanting to get on the winning track, Anderson University baseball prepares of a pair of mid-week contests this week, beginning with its home opener on Tuesday with Limestone, followed by a home matchup with North Greenville on Wednesday, as both games are scheduled for 2 p.m. at Anderson Memorial Stadium.
The Trojans
After posting a convincing 7-1 win in its South Atlantic Conference
opener at Newberry on Friday, AU dropped a pair of games on
Saturday, falling to the Wolves 4-1 and 6-2. With the setbacks, the
Trojans fall to 1-4 on the young season looking to right the ship
with a five straight home games this week.
Leading the Trojan offense through the first five games has been junior catcher LJ Newman, as he currently ranks third in the conference with a .529 batting average (9-for-17), as he is currently one of three players in the SAC with averages higher than .500 on the season. Newman has posted in a hit in every game this season, including three-hit performances in the series openers against UNC Pembroke and Newberry.
Senior middle infielder Brett Cash closely follows the catcher with a .500 batting average (7-for-14), as he is one of four players in the league with a pair of triples on the year. Cash has recorded three two-hit games this season, headlined by a three-RBI performance in the narrow 6-5 setback at UNC Pembroke on Jan. 31.
The AU pitching staff will look to cut down on its walks allowed, as it enters the week ranked eighth in the conference with 22 walks through the first five games. Providing a spark on the mound this weekend was freshman right-hander Cody Sheffield who did not allow an earned run in his 4.1 innings pitched of his first collegiate start. The freshman struck out five Newberry hitters and allowed five hits.
The Saints
Limestone comes into the week with a 3-2 record, as it just
completed a four-game series with Gannon over the weekend,
splitting the four games with two-games apiece. Before the
four-game set, the Saints posted a 2-1 win in 14 innings over SAC
opponent Carson-Newman in the team's home opener.
At the plate, LC is led by senior outfielder Michael Gonzalez who is hitting .400 (6-for-15) on the young season with a triple and six runs scored. Gonzalez posted a three-hit performance with three runs scored in the third game of the series with the Knights.
On the mound, left-hander Dylan Maloney is responsible for two of Limestone's three wins on the season, earning the start in one and coming in relief in the other victory. Maloney's young season has been highlighted by a five-inning start where he struck out five Gannon hitters in the team's 8-6 win on Sunday.
The Series vs. Limestone
Tuesday's matchup will mark the first meeting between Anderson and
Limestone since a Feb. 20, 2013 contest in Gaffney when the Saints
captured a 13-6 win. Limestone recorded two wins over the Trojans
that season with a 9-7 win in AU's home opener in early
February.
The Crusaders
After opening the season with three straight setbacks, North
Greenville got into the win column on Saturday in the final game of
a doubleheader with Lander. Falling to the Bearcats, 14-11, in the
first game of the day, the Crusaders bounced back with a 12-8
decision in the nightcap, moving NGU's record to 1-3 on the season.
With a game pending against Benedict on Tuesday, North Greenville
is ensured a below .500 record when it heads to Anderson Memorial
Stadium on Wednesday.
As a team, NGU is hitting .283 for the year, as junior first baseman Taylor McCuen leads the Crusaders with a .500 batting average (5-for-10) adding two doubles, two RBI and four runs scored through North Greenville's first four games.
The North Greenville pitching staff has yet to find its standout, using at least six pitchers in every game this season. In the 12-8 victory over Lander on Saturday, NGU sent out eight different pitchers, as junior right-hander Hunter Dilworth tossed the most innings of 3.2 and struck out two Bearcats in the outing. Following Dilworth, Michael Bonifay recorded 1.1 innings and eventually received the win.
The Series vs. North Greenville
Last season, AU took 2-of-3 from its in-state rivals, including a
22-12 marathon win by the Trojans on Feb. 27. Andersons sealed the
season-long series with a 7-4 victory in 11 innings.
