ANDERSON, S.C.– The Anderson University (7-1, 0-1 SAC) baseball team jumped out to an early lead in their conference opening matchup against the Newberry College (4-4, 1-0 SAC) Wolves on Friday, February 13, but couldn't hold on as costly defensive miscues in the middle innings saw them drop the contest by a tight 7-6 final score.
Anderson started the day with a strong showing in the opening frame, posting five runs and taking the early advantage. After getting a base runner by a leadoff error from the Wolves defense, followed by a single up the middle by senior Adams Faucett (Spartanburg, S.C.) gave the Trojans two runners in scoring position after advancing over on the throw in from the outfield.
Graduate Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.) stepped up and sent a rocket over the right fielder's head that brought around a pair and left him waiting on second base. A ground-out moved senior Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) over into scoring position after his base hit, with both scoring eventually, including Wells and senior Brooks Mauro (Clemson, S.C.) being driven in on a double by junior Ben Bullard (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) to give the Trojans the 5-0 lead.
Newberry was able to put a single run on the board in the top of the third, but it was the top of the fourth inning where they would do the most damage, capitalizing on three Trojan errors to plate four runs in the frame and bring the score to level pegging. The tie was short lived however as Faucett was able to plate a run in the bottom of the frame off a sacrifice fly that gave the Black and Gold the lead again, 6-5.
The Wolves added another run in the top of the sixth, but then both teams would go quiet on the scoreboard until the ninth inning, despite the Trojans having a quality opportunity in the bottom of the sixth with runners in scoring position. After a pair of strikeouts to start the top of the ninth, the Wolves sandwiched a hit batter around a pair of singles that brought in what would eventually be the game winning run. Anderson tried to rally in the bottom of the inning but wouldn't put a runner on the bags as the Wolves took the opening game of the series, 7-6.
Bullard and Medford led the Trojans with a pair of RBIs each while Faucett and sophomore Dom Bello (Orlando, Fla.) added one as well. Senior Walker Noland (Marietta, Ga.) tossed six strong innings in the matchup allowing just two earned runs while fanning three batters. Junior Tyler Shipman (Simpsonville, S.C.) took the loss in relief, despite allowing just one run and striking out four batters.
The two teams return to action tomorrow as they complete their three-game conference series with a doubleheader, starting at 1:00 p.m.
