ANDERSON, S.C. -- Behind an explosive offensive in the first
game and a complete-game pitching performance in the nightcap,
Anderson swept Erskine, 20-11 and 8-1 in Conference Carolinas
baseball Monday afternoon at Anderson Memorial Stadium. After a
series of weather-related delays over the last three days, the
Trojans and Flying Fleet finally met on the baseball diamond Monday
afternoon on a cold and windy day. The conference opener for both
teams saw the two teams explode for a combined 31 runs in a game
where the gusting winds made it difficult for the defense on each
team. Anderson (5-2) has now claimed three consecutive wins, while
Erskine, picked to finish second in the league's preseason poll and
ranked 24th in the nation on Feb. 8 by Collegiate Baseball Magazine
fell to 4-3 on the young season. "Anytime you can get two wins to
start out the conference it's a good day," said Anderson head coach
Joe Miller. "I thought the team played well." Senior hurler Bryson
Graydon tossed the Trojans' first complete game of the 2010
campaign in the nightcap, as the right-handed hurler scattered six
hits, walked just two batters and surrendered only one earned run
en route to improving to 1-1 on the season. The Anderson offense
supplied all the offense Graydon needed on the mound by scoring two
runs in the bottom of the third inning on two hits and capitalized
on fielding misplays by the Flying Fleet. Sophomore catcher Luke
Sawyer led off the frame with a single through the left side and
senior Derek Hipp followed by lacing a shot just inside the
third-base bag for a run-scoring double and moved to third as the
throw from the outfield scooted through the infield. The Trojans
plated the go-ahead run when sophomore Ryan Kirkland's high pop to
shallow center field eluded the Fleet defense, allowing Hipp to
cross the plate. The Trojans put the game out of reach with a
five-run fourth inning when AU batted around. Five of the first six
Trojan hitters reached base and all five crossed the plate as Matt
Hill led off the frame with a single and Thomas Padro, Jonathan
Romano and Sawyer each followed with singles. Hipp reached base on
an error by the Erskine second baseman and came around to score on
Kirkland's second hit of the game. Anderson added a solo run in the
fifth when Blake May's sacrifice fly to right scored Hill from
third following his leadoff triple. The opening game of the
doubleheader was a slugfest that saw just one scoreless inning,
with the swirling wind playing havoc with both teams' defense. The
visitors opened the game with two in the top of the first, but AU
answered with five in the bottom of the inning, and the teams
plated a combined 19 runs in the first three innings alone, with
Anderson holding a 12-7 advantage heading into the fifth. The
Trojans added six in the fifth and two more in the eighth to put
the contest out of reach. Senior right-hander Brady Peele pitched
five full innings to move to 1-0 on the season, while junior Marsh
Kowalski wrapped up the game with two innings of relief. Hipp, Hill
and Kirkland all posted four hits in the doubleheader, with Brett
Scarberry and Hill each garnering triples and Kirland also
collecting a double. Anderson gets backs on the diamond quickly,
playing host to the North Greenville Crusaders in a twinbill
tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. at Anderson Memorial
Stadium. Game 1 Game 2 Season
Statistics