ANDERSON, S.C. – Sophomore right-hander Lucas Smith fanned 16 batters and tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout to help lead the Anderson baseball team to a 7-0 win over Augusta, Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
"What a great night at Anderson Memorial Stadium," said Anderson head coach P.J. Zocchi. "First off, hats off to Augusta starter Hunter Norman. He kept our offense off-balance for almost six innings. I thought we had some quality at-bats but couldn't capitalize when we had opportunities. Trojan fans just witnessed one of, if not the best, pitching performances in the Electric City. Lucas Smith was electric tonight."
Anderson improved to 5-2 on the season with its second straight win and third victory in four decisions. Augusta (0-8) is still searching for its first win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Nick Vella was 3-for-5 on the night, with a double and a pair of singles, with sophomore Jacob Kohns adding a pair of singles and a walk in four at-bats. Freshman Ryan Brash was 2-for-4, with a single and a double, while junior Chandler Castleberry reached base on a pair of walks. Classmate Dalton Shaw was 1-for-2, with a single, a walk and was also hit by a pitch.
Smith's gem was the first nine-inning complete game for the Trojans since former standout Austin Todd Austin threw a three-hi, nine-inning complete game in AU's 4-1 win over Catawba in the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Tournament. Thomas Goodman posted two during the 2014 campaign. The right-hander allowed just three hits – a pair of doubles and a single – and did not allow a batter to reach third base. He struck out 16 Jaguars and did not walk a batter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans pushed a solo run across in the bottom of the sixth on Shaw's clutch, two-out single through the right side that brought home Dillon Carpenter with the game's first run.
AU sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and broke the game open by plating six runs.
STAT OF THE DAY
Augusta was limited to three baserunners and went down in order in six of their nine at-bats.
UP NEXT
Anderson will get back on the diamond quickly, with the Trojans slated to host a triple-header on Saturday, starting with Lake Erie taking on Augusta at 11 a.m. AU and Lake Erie are scheduled for a 3 p.m. matchup, with the Trojans and Saginaw Valley slated to face off in Saturday's final contest.
Saginaw Valley and Lake Erie will wrap up the three-day event with a Sunday morning contest at 11 a.m.
Admission to Trojan baseball games is free - No pets are allowed inside Memorial Stadium with the exception of service dogs.
