WINGATE, N.C. – Senior Carlos Hernandez (Maracay, Venezuela) led the Anderson University (11-8, 4-6 SAC) with a trio of hits and a pair of RBIs, but the Trojans fell short of the Bulldogs of Wingate University (12-7, 5-2 SAC) by a score of 12-4 in the series opening contest on Friday, March 8.

Sophomore Mac Ketchin (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) and senior Kye Andress (Hendersonville, S.C.) were each able to tally a pair of hits in the contest, with Ketchin bringing in a run as well. Senior JC LeGrand (Lugoff, S.C.) tallied the fourth RBI of the day for the Black and Gold in his lone hit of the game. Senior Ryan Brash (Aiken, S.C.) was brilliant out of the bullpen for the Trojans, pitching five innings and allowing just one hit and one run while striking out four.

The Trojans were able to post a run in the top of the first to take the early advantage as Hernandez recorded his first of two RBIs in the game with a single up the middle to put Anderson up by a 1-0 margin. That lead didn't last long as the Bulldogs were able to add a run to their side of the scoreline in the bottom half of the frame to tie the contest up at one.

That lead swung right back into the Trojans favor in the top of the second as after a lead-off walk, an RBI-triple by LeGrand would bring in the first run of the frame while he would trot the final 90 feet on an RBI-single from Ketchin that extended the lead to 3-1. However, Wingate responded in the bottom of the inning with six runs of their own to re-take the lead and they would never relinquish it the rest of the way.

Wingate scored a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings and one more in the sixth while the Trojans were held scoreless until the top of the ninth when Hernandez was able to record his second RBI of the day, but the Bulldogs worked out a two-out two-runner jam in the ninth to take the series opener 12-4.

The two teams return to the diamond on Sunday, March 10 as they complete the series with a doubleheader slated for a 2:00 p.m. start.