Box Score
Box score
FOREST CITY, N.C. - Despite Nick Bernardo's fourth home run in
three games, sixth-seeded Anderson University baseball could not
keep up with top-seeded and regular-season conference champion
Catawba, falling 12-2 Friday afternoon in the first round of the
2015 South Atlantic Conference Tournament at McNair Field.
With the setback, the Trojans drop to 21-29 for the season and
move to the consolation bracket with an elimination game on tap for
Saturday. The Indians, who claim their fourth win over AU this
season, advance to the winner's bracket semifinals and improve to
36-10 overall.
The Anderson offense was paced by juniors LJ Newman and Steven
Cooper, as the tandem combined for a 5-for-8 afternoon at the
plate. Newman led the club with three hits, as all three base
knocks were singles to increase his hit total to five for the
tournament. Cooper also posted his fifth hit of the tournament, as
his day has headlined by a first-inning double off of SAC Pitcher
of the Year, Craig Brooks.
Nick Bernardo put the Trojans on the scoreboard in the second
inning with a solo home run for his second homer in the tournament.
After bashing two home runs against Southern Wesleyan on Senior
Night on Tuesday, the graduate student now has four homers in his
last three games.
Senior shortstop Brett Cash drove in AU's final run of the game
in the seventh when his sacrifice fly scored freshman third baseman
Tyler Miller from home to close AU's scoring on the day. Cash
closed the game 1-for-3 at the plate.
The Catawba hitters proved to be the difference as the Indians
tallied 11 hits for its 12 runs. The top four hitters in the
Catawba lineup combined for a 7-for-15 performance, highlighted by
a 3-for-5 performance from outfielder Will Albertson. Albertson,
who is a two-time NCBWA Hitter of the Week Award winter, also
posted four RBI for the afternoon to increase his season total to
80.
To go along with the seven hits from the top of the Indian
lineup, leftfielder Luke Setzer matched Bernardo's home run with a
two-run shot over the 25-foot left-field wall to cap off a five-run
third inning. For Setzer, the home run was his third of the season.
Follow Setzer, Dylan Richardson and Kyle Smith posted a double
apiece for the afternoon.
Shining on the pitching mound for the Black and Gold was
freshman right-hander Matthew Reitz, who tossed 4.2 innings and
allowed just one hit. Reitz struck out one Catawba hitter and
headlined his outing by sitting down 11 straight to begin his
relief appearance. Right-hander Chris Ayers was tabbed with the
loss despite striking out five in three complete innings.
On the opposite end, Brooks tossed five complete and struck out
10 AU hitters to claim his 10th victory of the campaign.
Anderson looks to get back on track on Saturday when it squares
off with the loser of second-seeded Newberry and fifth-seeded
Wingate in its elimination game of the tournament. First pitch from
McNair Field is scheduled for noon.