Box Score WINGATE, N.C. – The Anderson baseball team opened its South Atlantic Conference slate with a 14-3 setback at the hands of top-ranked Wingate, Friday night at Ron Christopher Stadium.
Anderson slipped to 13-2 overall and 0-1 in the league with its first loss in three outings, while preseason league favorite Wingate improved to 15-2 and 4-0 in conference play with its 11th consecutive home win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Justin Fox was 2-for-4 at the plate and also reached on a walk, while JC LeGrand also posted a pair of hits, including his fourth double of the season. Carlos Hernandez added his fourth double of the season, with Jaxon Young and Jackson Van Ness each going 1-for-3 at the plate.
Joseph Cottone (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing five earned runs over four innings of work on the mound. He gave up seven hits and walked three, while striking out six Bulldogs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans struck first with a solo run in the top of the first inning, courtesy of clutch two-out hitting by both Fox and Hernandez. Fox singled up the middle and Hernandez followed with a double for his team-leading 17th RBI. Wingate countered by scoring three runs – also with two outs – in the bottom half of the first frame.
The Bulldogs built a 5-1 lead by adding a pair of runs in the second inning, while AU took advantage of three singles and a walk in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 5-2 and climbed with two runs of the Bulldogs by plating another run in the top of the sixth inning. But Wingate broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning and tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
NOTABLES
• Each team opened the season with an 11-game win streak.
• Both teams have lost midweek games to Lander this season.
• The Trojans and Bulldogs have met on 33 occasions, with Wingate leading the all-time series, 33-9. The first-ever meeting between the two programs occurred during the 2007 campaign.
• Wingate has won eight of the last nine meetings, with AU winning the first game of last year's three-game conference series.
UP NEXT
The Trojans and Bulldogs are scheduled to wrap up the three-game series Saturday afternoon. First-pitch for the twin bill at Ron Christopher Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
