Box score
ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson's Ryan Saxon and Wingate University
junior outfielder Dodson McPherson and redshirt sophomore first
baseman Brian Yeung each contributed two-run homers as the Bulldogs
survived 9-7 over the Trojans in South Atlantic Conference baseball
action Friday night at Anderson Memorial Stadium.
With the victory, Wingate improves to 25-19 overall and 12-10
in the SAC. Anderson falls to 18-24 overall and 9-13 in the SAC.
The Bulldogs and the Trojans will play a doubleheader Saturday. The
first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
McPherson broke a 5-5 tie with a towering home run in the top
of the seventh inning. His blast scored junior shortstop Chris
Vazquez, who had started the pivotal frame with a walk. Two outs
later, Bulldog junior designated hitter Jacob Karr tripled to
right-center field. Karr's three-bagger chased AU sophomore starter
TJ Estes. An RBI single by freshman third baseman Cody Shelton
scored Karr.
The Trojans made things interesting with two runs in the bottom
of the seventh inning, cutting their deficit to 8-7. Anderson
junior shortstop Thomas Prado got things started with a single
through the left side. Senior second baseman Ryan Saxon hit a
double down the left field line, scoring Prado all the way from
first.
Saxon moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a ground out
by sophomore first baseman Erick Sanderson. Wingate senior relief
pitcher Drew Boyer settled down, striking out AU junior third
baseman Blake May for the second out. Boyer got sophomore
designated hitter Tony Price on a pop-out to end the seventh
frame.
Wingate added a huge insurance run in the top of the ninth.
Bulldog senior catcher Taylor Honeycutt did the honors,
contributing an RBI sacrifice fly to score Karr, who had reached on
a single.
Bulldog freshman reliever Stephen Vaughan saved the victory in
relief of senior left-hander Chris Nelson. Vaughan struck out the
side in the bottom of the eighth inning. He retired the Trojans
one-two-three in the bottom of the ninth inning, ending the game
with a strikeout. Vaughan pitched two innings, facing the minimum
six batters.
Anderson scored three runs in bottom of the first inning to take
an early lead. Trojan junior center fielder Jonathan Romano started
the proceedings with a single. Padro grounded out to move Romano to
second. Saxon followed with his sixth home run of the season. He
leads the Trojans with 36 RBI. Sanderson drew a full-count walk. He
scored one out later on an RBI single by Price.
Wingate junior left fielder Casey Allison got the Bulldogs on
the board with a solo home run to lead off the second inning. The
visitors scored three runs with two outs to take a 4-3 lead in the
third. Vazquez hit a solo home run, McPherson reached on an error
and Yeung followed with a homer to give Wingate the lead.
Anderson knotted the score at 4-4 in the fifth. Saxon doubled
and moved to third on a fly-out by Sanderson. Saxon scored on a
Nelson wild pitch. Wingate took a brief 5-4 edge in the sixth, as
Karr led off with a double and scored on a Shelton single. Anderson
tied the score in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI fielder's
choice by Romano.
The Bulldogs posted 17 hits. Both Karr and Shelton had three
each. Shelton recorded two RBI, while Karr scored three runs.
McPherson, Yeung, Allison and Honeycutt had two hits each for the
visitors. Saxon led Anderson with three hits and three RBI. Price
had two hits.
Boyer collected the victory for the Bulldogs, leveling his 2011
slate at 2-2 overall. In his team-best 19th appearance, Boyer
allowed two runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings. Vaughan earned his
fourth save following his perfect two innings. Nelson gave up five
runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked
two. Collectively, the Bulldog pitching trio recorded 12
strikeouts.
Estes took the loss for the Trojans. He is 3-3 overall. Estes
gave up eight runs (six earned) on 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings. He
struck out three and walked one.