ANDERSON, S.C. - Despite shortstop Brett Cash's three hits on the evening, Anderson University baseball was unable to keep up with hot-hitting No. 24 ranked Catawba, falling 20-7, in the opening contest of a three-game South Atlantic Conference series on Friday evening at Anderson Memorial Stadium.

With the setback, the Trojans snap a brief two-game winning streak and drop to 14-11 overall with a 9-7 record in league play, while Catawba captured its 10th straight victory and improve to 21-4 on the season with a 12-3 mark in the SAC.

Cash paced the AU lineup with three hits, including his fourth triple of the season coming in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the trio of hits, Cash increased his hitting streak to six straight games, as the shortstop has tallied three multi-hit contests in the stretch.

First baseman Steven Cooper and second baseman Kyle Bailey tallied two hits apiece, headlined by Cooper's two-run home run in the sixth for his third homer of the season. Bailey also scored twice and drove in an RBI, as Bailey increased his own hitting streak to seven straight games.

As a team, Anderson tallied 13 hits with designated hitter Travis Smith, pinch hitter Ryan Flynn and outfielder Nick Bernardo all tallying doubles for the evening.

Despite the double-figure hit total, Catawba's offense recorded 17 hits for its 20 runs scored for the game. The Indians were led by designated hitter TJ Wharton with a 4-for-6 performance, adding a pair of homers over the left-field wall. Wharton also crossed the plate twice and drove in a game-high seven RBI.

Catcher Will Albertson also clubbed a home run for the evening, as he drove in six Catawba runs in a 2-for-4 game. Third baseman Craig Brook went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while first baseman Chance Bowden finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a double.

Anderson looks to get back into the win column on Saturday when it completes the three-game series with a doubleheader against the Indians. First pitch of the opening game is set for 1 p.m., while the final contest is scheduled to begin for 4 p.m.