ANDERSON, S.C. - After capturing two-of-three from South Atlantic Conference rival Coker last weekend, Anderson University baseball prepares for a pair of nonconference tilts beginning on Tuesday with a trip to Limestone at 2 p.m., followed by a home contest with Southern Wesleyan on Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m.
The Trojans
With its two victories over the Cobras on Saturday, AU enters the
week with a 9-9 overall record with a 7-5 mark in league play, as
the Trojans sit alone in fifth place in the current SAC standings.
Anderson will have an opportunity to move up the league standings
this weekend when it welcomes Wingate to Memorial Stadium, as the
Bulldogs sit ahead of the Trojans with a 9-6 conference mark.
Three Trojans have tallied over 20 hits so far this season, as junior catcher LJ Newman continues to lead the way with 29. Newman recorded three 3-hit games against Coker last weekend, as he currently ranks second in the conference with his .468 batting average and third in slugging percentage with a .774 mark. Newman is on a five-game hitting streak with multi-hits in his last four games.
Classmate Steven Cooper, who has started every game at first base this season, ranks second on the team and 11th in the SAC with 25 hits on the year. The junior is also riding a five-game hit streak, as he recorded a pair of three-hit games in AU's four games a week ago.
Middle infielder Kyle Bailey rounds out the 20-hit club for AU, coming into the week with 21 on the year. The junior notched a pair of two-hit games on Saturday against Coker, marking his seventh and eighth games with multi-hits.
On the mound, junior right-hander David Thompson shined on Saturday by completing seven strong innings in AU's 19-6 victory over Coker. In the game, Thompson struck out seven Cobra hitters and walked just four, while allowing just four hits on the afternoon.
The Saints
After Anderson claimed a 12-3 win over Limestone on Feb. 12, the
Saints have gone 1-9, as they enter Tuesday's contest on an
eight-game losing streak. Overall, Limestone boasts a 4-16 record
and is still searching for its first win in Conference Carolinas as
it holds a 0-9 league mark. In addition to the Anderson loss, the
Saints are 0-11 away from Gaffney this season.
Leading LC on the offensive end is junior infielder Logan Conley with a .317 average and four home runs which slots his fourth in Conference Carolinas. Conley has posted hits in four of his last five games, headlined by a three-hit game against Mars Hill on March 4.
Senior right-handed pitcher Jameson McGrane has tossed two complete games for the Saints on the year and holds a 4.78 ERA, despite not earning a win in his six starts. Junior left-hander Dylan Maloney paces the club in victories with two on the year.
The Warriors
SWU comes into Wednesday's game with a 5-14 overall record and a
2-7 mark in its first season as a Conference Carolinas member. Most
recently, the Warriors have dropped six of their last seven games
with their lone win coming over fellow league newcomer Emmanuel,
7-2, last Friday. Despite the series-opening win over the Lions,
Southern Wesleyan fell in both games in Saturday's
doubleheader.
Freshman infielder Josh Shimp continues to lead the Warrior offense as the lone player with 20 or more hits on the season with 28. The freshman has totaled seven extra-base hits, including one of the team's five home runs on the campaign. Shimp has posted a hit in five of the last six games, as his five-game hit streak was snapped on Saturday by Emmanuel.
Senior left-hander Matt Buss leads the pitching staff with 24 strikeouts, while he is tied with sophomore right-hander Hamilton Hartsell with five games started. Hartsell is the lone Warrior with a complete game under his belt, despite entering the week with a 0-5 record.
