ANDERSON, S.C. -- Buoyed by strong pitching performances on the mound in the nightcap, the Anderson baseball team opened an important three-game Conference Carolinas series by splitting an afternoon doubleheader with Limestone falling, 10-9, in the opener and winning the second game, 5-3, Saturday afternoon at Anderson Memorial Stadium. The two teams are battling for position in next month's six-team conference tournament, with AU entering Saturday's game in seventh and the Saints in eighth. Anderson (12-23, 6-10 Conference Carolinas) now has two wins in its last three outings, while Limestone (11-21, 6-11 CC) snapped a nine-game skid with the come-from-behind victory in game one of the twinbill. The Trojans entered the afternoon looking to avenge an 11-2 midweek setback to the Saints from three weeks ago and jumped on top early. The opener featured plenty of offense, with the team combining for 29 hits and 19 runs over the nine innings. Limestone junior Josh Troutman provided the game-winning RBI-double with two out in the ninth inning to score Adam Vafides from first base after the third baseman singled back up the middle. Anderson threatened to send the game to extra innings when Romano reached base on an error by the Saints' shortstop and catcher Brett Scarberry moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but AU was unable to capitalize, with Troutman retiring the final two AU hitters. Anderson opened the scoring with six runs in the first inning behind six hits and a walk, as 11 batters went to the plate. Scarberry and first baseman Ryan Kirkland did the most damage, with each recording two RBI. Limestone answered with five in the second and solo runs in both the third and fourth innings to edge out to a brief 7-6 lead before AU countered with two runs in the fifth to regain an 8-7 advantage. Saxon led off the fifth with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on Kirkland's single to center and crossed the plate on a Limestone error. The Trojans took the lead back when Thomas Padro bounced into a fielder's choice, scoring Kirkland from third. Limestone battled back with two in the top of the sixth on Tim Welsh's two-run homer, but the Trojans evened the contest at 9-9 in the bottom of the inning when Matt Hill ripped a single back up the middle and scored when Kirkland bounced out to second three batters later. Derek Hipp led off the second game by striking out, but reached base when the ball squirted away from the Limestone catcher and the mistake proved costly, as left-fielder Chance Thomas followed with an RBI-double to the gap in left-center that saw Hipp score all the way from first base. Blake May then reached first as the Saints' first-baseman misplayed his popup on the infield, putting two Trojan runners on with no outs but Anderson was unable to capitalize. The Saints countered with a solo run in the top of the second, when senior Tim Welsh recorded a lead-off double, moved to third on a fly out to center and crossed the plate on Josh Troutman's sacrifice fly to left. Anderson sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the second, adding three more runs, as Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to force in Romano from third. May followed with a two-RBI single to center to plate both Corey Frye and Luke Sawyer, giving the Trojans a 4-1 lead heading into the third inning. Limestone added a solo run in the fifth on the strength of a leadoff home run off the bat of Tyler Weaver and Troutman came up with a two-out RBI-double in the sixth to close the gap to just 4-3, but the Trojans pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the frame behind a an single from Sanderson to lead off the inning. The freshman stole second and moved to third on Romano's bunt single. The offensive execution paid dividends when Sanderson crossed the plate on Sawyer's fly to left, setting what turned out to be the final score. The Saints threatened in the final inning, with two batters reaching base with one out, but senior right-handed hurler B.J. Scarborough came on in relief and retired the final two hitters for his first save of the season, with Richardson improving to 2-1 on the season, going 6 1/3 innings and scattering seven hits. May, Saxon and Sanderson each finished the afternoon with three hits, with Saxon including two doubles. Kirkland also notched three RBI in the two games. Anderson and Limestone wrap up the three-game set with a 1 p.m. contest Sunday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Game 1 Game 2 Season Statistics