THOMASVILLE, N.C. – The junior tandem of William Thomas and Tyler Miler combined for eight hits on the afternoon and Trojan hurlers allowed just six runs, as Anderson split a nonconference baseball doubleheader with Winston-Salem State, falling 3-0 in the opener and winning the nightcap, 4-3, Friday afternoon at Finch Field.
Anderson moved to 13-29 on the season, while handing Winston-Salem State (26-13) its first loss in 11 decisions in the nightcap.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Game #1
Winston-Salem State 3, Anderson 0
Miller notched two of the Trojans' three hits and reached base in all four trips to the plate. The shortstop posted a pair of singles and a walk, with Thomas adding a ninth-inning single.
Sophomore John McMcMicking (1-6) suffered the loss, despite surrendering just two runs on seven hits over seven full innings of work. The right-hander fanned six Rams and walked just one. Senior Evan Small tossed an inning of relief and allowed a run on one hit, while issuing one free pass.
Game #2
Anderson 4, Winston-Salem State 3
Thomas was 3-for-4 in the nightcap, with three singles. Miller added a home run, as walk and a single, while sophomore designated hitter Carson Barrett was 2-for-4, with a double and a single.
Senior right-hander Ryan Owens (4-4) posted the Trojans' second consecutive stellar effort on the mound, allowing just four singles through four innings and gave up three runs on seven total hits in 6 2/3 innings. Junior right-hander Andrew Dill collected his third save of the season by giving up a two-out single in the ninth, but recording the final out on a strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The opener was a pitcher's duel through the first six innings, with McMicking and WSSU hurler Will Beeson combining to allow just four singles and issuing just four walks through the first six frames.
McMicking nearly worked out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh after Winston-Salem State got runners on first and third with no outs. He notched a strikeout but lost the shutout when the Rams pushed two runs across with a pair of singles and Winston-Salem State added another run on a solo homer to lead off the eighth inning.
After Miller led off the final inning with a single to right and Thomas reached on a one-out walk, AU had the tying run at plate with one out, but the Trojans were unable to get on the scoreboard.
Game 2
The Trojans took an early lead when Miller led off the game with his first home run of the season and added another run in the top of the third when Miller ripped a one-out single to left field and scored on Thomas' single to right.
Junior Michael Rochester led off the fourth inning with a double and moved to third when Barrett grounded out to the right side. Senior Xavier Peralta followed with another single to get runners on first and third, with sophomore Bryce Patrick pulling a two-out single to left and scoring Rochester to give AU a 3-0 advantage. Miller reached on an error to load the bases with two outs and keep the pressure on, but the Trojans were unable to add another run in the inning.
The Rams countered by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Owens escaped damage by retiring the next two batters.
The Trojans built a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning when Thomas led off with a single, moved to second on Dillon Carpenter's single and crossed the plate on another Ram error. But Winston-Salem State sliced the Trojans' lead in half with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
After being retired in order in the sixth inning, the Ram's Brandon Ford pulled WSSU within one on a solo home run, before Dill entered and gave up the single before fanning Emilio Abreu to end the game.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans suffered their first shutout since late February in the opener.
• McMicking's seven-inning effort was his second-longest stint of the season.
• McMicking's six K's were his second-highest tally of the season.
• Owens' seven strikeouts were also his second-highest total of the season.
• Thomas leads the Trojans with 20 multi-hit games on the season.
• Miller has 18 multi-hit games and Dillon Carpenter has 13.
• Miller extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
UP NEXT
Anderson will close out its road schedule when the Trojans and Rams square off in the three-game series finale, Saturday afternoon. First-pitch at Finch Field is set for 1 p.m.
