ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson baseball team opened a five-game homestand by rallying to score four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and outpaced longtime rival Erskine, 7-4, Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
"It was a great team win tonight against a rival after being off the field for a week," said Anderson head coach P.J. Zocchi. "We got a great start from freshman Ethan Stalnecker. He set the tone on the mound by giving us five strong innings. Offensively, we didn't execute to our team expectations - we had multiple opportunities to put the game away. The pitching staff gave us a chance all night and we were able to capitalize and execute in the eighth."
Anderson improved to 4-2 on the season with its second win in three outings, while Erskine (2-5) suffered its third straight loss.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Nick Vella was 2-for-4 on the day and drew a bases-loaded walk to push across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning, while senior Cody Adams went 2-for-4, with a double and a bunt single and crossed the plate with the eventual winning run on Vella's walk. Junior Will Lindsey posted a pair of singles and also reached on an error, while crossing the plate twice. Classmate Trevor Weisner added a pair of singles in four trips to the plate, with Chandler Castleberry notching three RBI on the day. Sophomore Jacob Kohns scored twice and drove in two runs.
Stalnecker – the first of six Trojan hurlers - drew the start on the mound, but came away with no decision after allowing just one run on three hits through five complete innings. Senior reliever Christin Carpenter earned his fourth save of the young season after coming on in the ninth and retiring the Flying Fleet in order.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans capitalized on a pair of Erskine miscues to grab a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, but AU might have broken the game open early, except Fleet leftfielder Zach Carter robbed Castleberry of a three-run homer with one out by leaping just above the fence in left field to make the grab, while Lindsey scored from third.
Erskine got on the scoreboard with a solo homer in the top of the fourth and used a three-run seventh to grab a 4-3 lead.
AU threatened by getting two runners on base with two outs in the seventh, but came away empty-handed, before erupting for four runs in the eighth inning. Weisner opened the frame with a single back up the middle and Adams followed by beating out a bunt to get the tying run at second and the go-ahead run on first. One out later, Lindsey loaded the bases with AU's second straight bunt single and Kohns was hit by a pitch to bring Weisner home from third with the tying run. The Trojans took the lead when Vella worked for a walk and added a pair of insurance runs on Castleberry's one-out single to left.
STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans out-hit Erskine, 10-7.
NOTABLES
• The two teams combined to commit five errors.
• The Trojans stranded 10 runners, while Erskine left five runners on base.
• Seven of AU's hits were singles.
• Nick Vella leads the Trojans with five multiple-hit games.
• Dillon Carpenter is riding a six-game hitting streak.
• Nick Vela has hit safely in five straight games.
• Jacob Kohns, Chandler Castleberry and Dillon Carpenter have all reached base safely in six consecutive games.
UP NEXT
Anderson will get back on the diamond this weekend with a baseball extravaganza, as the Trojans will host six games over the weekend, beginning with Augusta squaring off against Saginaw Valley, Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. AU will face Augusta in the nightcap, with first-pitch slated for 7 p.m.
Friday 2/14
3 p.m. Augusta vs Saginaw Valley
7 p.m. Augusta vs Anderson
Saturday 2/15
11 a.m. Lake Erie vs Augusta
3 p.m. Lake Erie vs Anderson
7 p.m. Saginaw Valley vs Anderson
Sunday 2/16
11 a.m. Saginaw Valley vs Lake Erie
