SALISBURY, N.C. – The Trojans held their own in the middle innings, but Catawba's early-inning and late-inning offense was too much, as Anderson dropped the opening contest of a three-game South Atlantic Conference baseball series with an 8-3 setback to the Indians, Friday night at Newman Park.
Anderson slipped to 17-17 overall and 6-7 in league play, while Catawba (20-14, 10-3 SAC) snapped a three-game skid with the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Third baseman Brayden Owens was 2-for-3 at the plate, with a run-scoring single, a double and also reached on a ninth-inning walk. He also scored a run in the third inning. Freshman Gray Wells added a pair of singles in five at-bats, while grad student Jordan Montgomery posted a double and was hit by a pitch twice. He also crossed the plate once. Luke Poole was 1-for-3, with a single and was also hit by a pitch and scored a run.
Trey Princiotto (1-4) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits over six full innings on the mound. He struck out five batters and walked just two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Indians took advantage of a two-out, two-run double in the first inning and a solo home run to lead off the second frame to build an early 3-0 lead, before Owens led off the third inning with his fourth double of the year and scored when JC LeGrand followed with a single to left field.
The Trojans knotted the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the fourth, but would not score again, while Catawba regained the lead with another run in the bottom of the fourth and built a 5-3 edge with a run in its half of sixth inning.
The Indians rounded out the scoring with a three-run eighth inning.
STAT OF THE GAME
Princiotto walked just two batters and reliever Nick Miller did not issue a free pass in two innings on the mound. A pair of Catawba hurlers combined to walk just two batters on the night.
NOTABLES
• Catawba leads the overall series with the Trojans, 37-11.
• The Trojans are in eighth place in the battle for a berth in the eight-team SAC Tournament in late April.
• Justin Fox has 19 stolen bases on the season and is two away from moving into a tie for sixth place in the school's single-season record books.
• Fox is currently sixth in the school record books with 46 career stolen bases and is six swipes away from eclipsing former standout Caleb Owen (2002-05) for fifth place all-time.
• Luke Poole is on a team-high 10-game hitting streak.
• Fox and Wells lead the team with 11 multi-hit games.
• Carlos Hernandez has reached base safely in his last 15 games.
• JC LeGrand and Kye Andress have each reached base safely in their last seven games.
UP NEXT
The Trojans and Indians are scheduled to wrap up the series with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. First-pitch at Newman Park is set for 2 p.m.
