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Box Score 2
HARROGATE, Tenn. - Despite suffering an 8-6 setback in the
opening game, Anderson University baseball held off a furious
seventh-inning rally with a 15-13 marathon victory, claiming its
first series win over Lincoln Memorial since joining the South
Atlantic Conference in 2011 Saturday afternoon at LMU's Hennon
Field.
With the split, the Trojans move to 18-26 on the season and an
even 13-13 mark in the SAC heading into the final week of the
conference schedule next weekend. The Railsplitters, who entered
the weekend in first place of the league standings, jumped to
25-14-1 overall and 15-7 for the conference.
Leading the AU attack was senior left fielder Nate Galliford
with six hits for both games, including blasting two home runs in
the opening game of the day, increasing his conference-leading
total to 15 for the season. The senior finished 3-for-5 with five
RBI and two runs scored in the first game, and followed the career
day with a 3-for-4 game with two runs scored and a double.
Classmate Jonathan Zalud recorded five hits on the day,
following a 4-for-4 performance in the opening game of the series
on Friday. For the series, Zalud went 9-for-13 (.692) with three
doubles, two RBI and five runs scored.
Breaking the game wide open early on in the second game of the
day, junior shortstop Brett Cash blasted his first career grand
slam, giving AU a 7-0 advantage in the second inning of the
seven-inning game. Cash closed the latter contest with two hits,
five RBI and two runs scored.
Recording four singles for the day was senior right fielder Paul
Como, while adding three runs scored for the day. The top of the
Anderson lineup consisting of sophomores Kyle Bailey and Garrett
Bernardo each posted three hits apiece with a combined five runs
scored.
Sophomore first baseman Steven Cooper was held to a 0-for-4
performance in the opening game for his first 0-for-4 game since
March 25 at North Greenville. Cooper made up for his showing in the
first game with a 4-for-6 game in the final game of the day to go
along with a run scored and an RBI.
Seniors Josh Hickman and Ben Pendleton each tallied two hits on
the day, while LJ Newman posted a single in the first game.
In the first game of the day, senior right-hander Thomas Goodman
earned the start and tossed 7.1 innings with six strikeouts and
walking two Railsplitters. Despite grabbing highest strikeout total
since March 1, Goodman received the no-decision after an
eighth-inning rally by the home side doomed the Trojans. With a 6-5
lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Lincoln Memorial
scored three times as a double by Jonathan Lowe plated the game's
eventual winning runs.
AU left the game-tying run on first in the top of the ninth
inning, as LMU evened up the series with the 8-6 victory.
The Trojans answered quickly in the second game as the visitors
put up nine runs in the top of the second inning, headlined by
Cash's grand slam and six other AU hits. For Cash, the home run was
his second of the year.
LMU chipped into the lead with two runs in the bottom of the
second and in the fourth, but Anderson separated itself from the
Railsplitters with six more runs in the fifth inning. The Trojans
recorded eight hits in the inning, beginning with a leadoff double
from Galliford.
After Lincoln Memorial scored one run in the sixth, the
Railsplitters had the uphill task of a nine-run deficit in the
seventh. With a completely new lineup from when it started the
game, Lincoln Memorial plated seven runs on seven hits, but the
comeback bid fell short as junior reliever Evan Jordan added his
second save of the year.
Anderson returns to the diamond on Wednesday when it looks to
avenge an earlier season loss to nationally-ranked Lander.
Following its trip to its in-state rival on Wednesday, AU will
begin a three-game set with Newberry next weekend, looking to
clinch a spot into the Food Lion SAC Tournament for the first time
in program history.