DUE WEST, S.C. – Erskine rallied for five runs over the final three innings, including a pair with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, to escape with a dramatic, 7-6, win over Anderson in nonconference baseball action, Tuesday afternoon at Grier Field.
With the win, the Flying Fleet captured a half-point in the battle for the coveted Beville Cup, with the Trojans still holding a 6-3 lead in the competition, with 6 ½ points yet to be decided.
Anderson (3-7) has dropped two straight decisions, while Erskine improved to 8-5 by snapping a two-game skid and has won six of its last eight outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Freshman Avery Green was 3-for-5 at the plate for the Trojans, with a run scored. Fellow freshman Dillon Carpenter went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while sophomore Bryce Patrick added a pair of hits, an RBI and a walk. Junior Tyler Miller was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored, with classmate William Thomas adding two hits, a pair of RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases.
Freshman Brent Reynolds earned the start on the mound for the Trojans and tossed 3 1/3 innings, while allowing just one earned run, striking out two and issuing one walk. Junior right-hander Andrew Dill (0-1) absorbed the loss after surrendering two runs (one earned) in 1 1/3 innings of work. He gave up a pair of hits and struck out one batter.
The AU offense exploded for five runs in the Trojans' first at-bat, while Reynolds held the Flying Fleet to just one baserunner through the first three innings.
The Trojans took advantage of six hits, including a double, a walk and a wild pitch to gain the early advantage. Miller and Green opened the game with back-to-back singles and both crossed the plate when Thomas singled back up the middle. Carpenter's single up the middle brought home Thomas and after Carpenter swiped second base with his first steal of the season, the Charlotte, N.C., native moved to third when Zach McIlroy grounded out to the left side of the infield and scored on Jackson Strange's double to center field. Strange crossed the plate with AU's fifth run when Patrick singled to left field.
Erskine trimmed the Trojan lead to 5-2 with solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings, with AU getting one of the runs back in the top of the sixth frame. Miller and Green opened the inning by reaching on back-to-back errors, with Miller crossing the plate on yet another Fleet miscue.
Erskine countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth and cut the Trojans' lead to just 6-5 with another run in the bottom of the eighth frame. With a runner on and just one out, Dill pitched out of the jam by fanning the first batter he faced and Patrick fired to second to catch the Erskine runner attempting to swipe second.
The Trojans were unable to push an insurance run across in the top of the ninth inning and with two outs in the bottom of the frame, pinch-hitter Conner Greene coaxed a single to right and pinch-runner William Ruby scored the tying run when Trevor Wood doubled to deep left-center. Chaz Davey, the Fleet leadoff batter, followed with a ball to the left side of the infield but the throw to first was wide and Wood slid home just ahead of the tag at the plate for the winning run.
NOTABLES
• The five-run first inning marked the most runs scored by the Trojans in an inning this season.
• The 13 hits by the Trojans were the second-highest total of the season.
• The three stolen bases were a season-high for the Trojans.
• Michael Rochester currently has a seven-game hitting streak.
• William Thomas has reached base safely in all 10 games.
UP NEXT
Anderson is scheduled to visit Southern Wesleyan, Wednesday afternoon. First-pitch in Central, S.C., is set for 3 p.m.
