ANDERSON, S.C. -- Powered by seven-run fourth inning, the Anderson baseball team defeated Mars Hill, 12-4, in non-conference baseball action Wednesday afternoon at Anderson Memorial Stadium. The season-opener for both teams saw Anderson snap a 2-2 tie with a seven-run outburst in the fourth inning, as the Trojans sent 11 batters to the plate. Anderson's Ryan Kirkland finished the afternoon 4-for-5 with two RBI and scored three runs, while senior Derek Hipp, freshman Brett Scarberry and second baseman Matt Hill each added two hits. The Trojans worked Mars Hill sophomore Kyle Dietrich (0-1) for five earned runs off five hits in just one-third of an inning, saddling him with the loss after coming on in relief of Lions' starter Greg Smith in the bottom of the fourth. Three other relievers allowed eight runs off five hits over the final four frames for the Lions. Anderson starter Ben Roberts scattered four hits over five innings to pick up the win, while three AU relievers combined to surrender just five hits and two runs over the final four innings. "I'm surprised we didn't commit any errors because the field condition was tough on the fielders," Anderson head coach Joe Miller said. "We need to cut down on our strikeouts and walks but its early in the season. It's always good to start off with a win." The afternoon didn't start off well for the Trojans as Mars Hill senior Mike Kitt led off the game with a shot that cleared the fence in left-center to give the Lions a quick advantage before Roberts settled down and retired the next three hitters. Anderson quickly answered with two scores of its own in the bottom of the frame, as Hipp drew a leadoff walk and Kirkland laced a triple to center that MHC's Kitt got a glove on but was unable to corral with the sun in his eyes. Kirkland crossed the plate one batter later to give the Trojans a brief lead on Trent Still's sacrifice fly to right. The Lions responded with a run of their own to knot the score during their next at-bat, as Rob Dobbins drew a one-out walk and scored on Michael Bueker's two-out single. Roberts and the AU defense held Mars Hills scoreless over next two frames, allowing the Trojans to come to the plate in the fourth. Dietrich entered in relief for the Lions and Blake May greeted the right-hander with a lead-off triple, while Scarberry beat out an infield single to plate May for the go-ahead run. One out later Padro notched a double to left-center and scored when Hipp followed with his second hit of the afternoon, a triple to the right center field gap. It was Hipp's turn to cross the plate on an infield single by Kirkland, and that signaled the end of the day for Dietrich. Freshman hurler Charles Anthony took the hill, but the results were similar as Still singled and Saxon followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. Matt Hill collected the first of his two hits on the afternoon to pick up a RBI and the Trojans followed with two runs off MHC pitcher Tony Hearell. The Lions added solo runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, but would get no closer as Anderson answered with three in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach. The Trojans outhit Mars Hill 15-9 on the afternoon, with Saxon and Padro each recording a double and Hipp, Blake May and Kirkland all banging out three-baggers. Anderson will get back on the diamond Wednesday when the Trojans visit Limestone College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Gaffney.