CENTRAL, S.C. – Paced by freshman Dillon Carpenter's three-hit performance and freshman Christian Carpenter's stellar performance on the mound, the Anderson baseball team wrapped up its three-game road swing with a 4-2 win over Conference Carolinas-opponent Southern Wesleyan, Wednesday afternoon at Connor Field.
Anderson halted a two-game skid by improving to 4-7 on the season, while Southern Wesleyan fell to 3-10 with its third loss in four decisions.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dillon Carpenter was 3-for-5, with a triple and a home run and drove in three runs, while sophomore Jackson Strange added a triple. Junior William Thomas was 1-for-4 with a walk and senior Xavier Peralta was 1-for-3 with a walk.
Christian Carpenter (1-0) earned his first win of the season by allowing just two runs and scattering six hits in 7 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and did not issue a walk. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Vaughan tossed 1/3 of an inning and surrendered one hit, while junior Andrew Dill earned his second save of the season by tossing the ninth inning. He walked two, but did not allow a hit and struck out one batter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans struck with a solo run in the top of the first inning, when Thomas walked to lead off the game and moved all the way to third when Michael Rochester beat out a one-out infield single to the left side. The Irmo, S.C., native crossed the plate when Carpenter singled through the left side.
AU added another run in the top of the second when Jackson Strange laced a one-out triple to center and scored when freshman Joseph Strange singled through the left side. Thomas followed with a single up the middle and both runners move into scoring position when Avery Green grounded out, but the Trojans were unable to push any more runners across. The Warriors threatened in the bottom of the second after Conner Ewing doubled down the left-field line and Andrew Falgi was hit by a pitch with two outs to get two runners aboard with two outs. But Christian Carpenter induced Quinton Bent to bounce back to the pitcher for the third out.
Dillon Carpenter propelled the Trojans to a 3-0 lead when he led off the third inning with his team-leading third home run of the season beyond the left-field fence. Junior Tyler Miller followed with a double to left, but was stranded at second when the next three batters were each called out on strikes.
Southern Wesleyan threatened again with back-to-back one-out singles in the third frame, but Christian Carpenter worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a routine infield groundout.
The Warriors avoided a shutout and trimmed the AU lead to one with back-to-back two-out doubles in the eighth, when Drew Carson ripped a two-out double down the left-field line and Alec Hrynda followed with a double to left. Ewing greeted Vaughan with a single up the middle to score Htynda, but Vaughan recorded the final out of the frame on a fielder's choice.
The Trojans added an insurance run with two outs in the ninth. Green earned a one-out walk and Dillon Carpenter followed two batters later with AU's second tripe of the afternoon to plate Green.
Dill earned his second save of the season, but it didn't come without some late-inning drama. Falgi led off with a walk and stole second as Dill fanned Tyler Busby, who was pinch-hitting for Quinto Best. Falgi moved to third on a passed ball and Izzy Martine reached on the second free pass of the inning to get the tying run on base. With runners on first and third and one out, the Warriors' DiMarkus San grounded into a game-ending double play.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
The 7 2/3 inning stint on the mound by Carpenter was a season-high for the Trojans.
NOTABLES
• The two triples were a season-high for the Trojans.
• Michael Rochester currently has an eight-game hitting streak.
• William Thomas has reached base safely in all 11 games.
UP NEXT
Anderson is scheduled to open South Atlantic Conference action when Lenoir-Rhyne invades the Electric City for a three-game weekend series on Friday. First-pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
