ANDERSON, S.C. – After starting their conference season off with a comeback win yesterday, the Anderson University (6-4, 1-2 SAC) baseball team could not repeat that performance in either contest as they dropped a doubleheader to Tusculum (5-5, 2-1 SAC) at Anderson Memorial Stadium on Saturday, February 17.
Senior Carlos Hernandez (Maracay, Venezuela) recorded a pair of hits on the day while tallying an RBI in the late game. Sophomore Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) turned in a pair of hits in the nightcap while turning in an RBI as well. Junior Luke Poole (Greenwood, S.C.) recorded the lone RBI in the opener. Freshman Camden Watts (Blythewood, S.C.) pitched well in relief in the opening game, keeping the Pioneers scoreless over two innings while fanning four.
GAME ONE: Tusculum 9, Anderson 3
Anderson was able to jump out to an early advantage as the Trojans were able to use some small ball tactics to move a runner into scoring position on the second at-bat. Then a defensive miscue by the Pioneers defense followed by a wild pitch from the Tusculum start brought a trio of runs across the plate giving them the early 3-0 advantage.
However, the Pioneers were able to start chipping into that advantage in the top of the second inning with a single run and a pair of runs in the top of the third to evaporate the Trojans advantage and tie the contest up at three. Unfortunately for the Trojans, the Pioneers continued to add more runs to their tally with another two runs in the fifth and a trio of runs in top of the ninth while the Trojans were unable to capitalize on multiple runners in scoring position, dropping the opening contest 9-3.
GAME TWO: Tusculum 8, Anderson 3
The script for the second game was flipped as the Pioneers jumped out to the early advantage this time with a single run in the first inning and a four spot in the second inning to take the 5-0 advantage heading into the third. The Trojans were able to post a single run in the bottom of the third as Hernandez was able to drive a single through the right side that brought around a run while a passed ball and defensive miscue on the same play in the fourth brought around another one, cutting the lead to 5-2.
Tusculum stayed consistent over the next three innings, posting a single run in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to bring their lead back up to 8-2. Anderson was able to find a little big of a run to start the bottom of the seventh with a pair of walks to start the frame and an RBI single by Wells closed the gap to five, but an unfortunate double play and hard ground out brought the Trojans hopes to an end, dropping the 8-3 decision.
Anderson gets a full week of rest before they hit the road to Hartsville, S.C. to take on the Cobras of Coker University in their second conference series starting on Friday, February 23.
