ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University baseball team opened South Atlantic Conference action with a 9-0 setback to Lenoir-Rhyne, Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

In the conference opener for both teams, Anderson (4-8, 0-1 SAC) managed three hits, while Lenoir-Rhyne improved to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in league action with its third win in four decisions.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior William Thomas notched two of AU's hits on the night, with a double and a single, while also drawing a lead-off walk in the seventh inning. Sophomore Carson Barrett posted the other Trojan hit – a double in the second inning.

Senior Ryan Owens (1-2) absorbed the loss after allowing three earned runs on seven hits in five complete innings of work. He struck out eight batters and walked four.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans threatened in both the first and second frames behind the doubles from Thomas and Barrett – both coming with one out, but AU was unable to capitalize. Lenoir-Rhyne posted four hits and had a pair a walks through the first four innings, but Owens held the Bears off the scoreboard until the fifth inning.

Lenoir-Rhyne posted three runs in both the fifth and sixth frames, along with a pair of runs in the seventh and a solo run in the eighth inning to give senior Thomas St. Clair more support than he needed. The right-hander improved to 5-0 on the season with his first complete game.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
• The two doubles marked the second straight game that the Trojans have posted two extra-base hits.

NOTABLES
• Michael Rochester saw his team-high eight-game hitting streak halted.
• William Thomas has reached base safely in all 12 games.

UP NEXT
The Trojans and Bears will wrap up their three-game series with a doubleheader, Saturday afternoon. First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.