FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The Anderson University (8-3) baseball team answered an early deficit with a six-run second inning and pulled away late to defeat Emmanuel (4-7), 13-5, Tuesday afternoon at Tommy Carey Field.
Emmanuel struck first with five runs in the bottom of the opening inning, collecting four hits including a three-run double to take a 5-0 advantage.
The Trojans responded immediately in the top of the second. Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) worked a leadoff walk and later scored when Riley Matthews (Lexington, S.C.) delivered a three-run double down the left-field line. After Matthews advanced on a wild pitch, Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) doubled to right-center to bring him home. Brooks Mauro (Cumming, Ga.) followed with an RBI single, and Wells capped the inning with a run-scoring base hit to left, completing a six-run frame that gave Anderson a 6-5 lead.
Anderson added to its advantage in the sixth. Matthews doubled to left and scored when Harrison lined a double to left field. Mauro followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-5.
In the seventh, Wells singled to left center and later crossed the plate on a single from Bryce Helms (Duncan, S.C.), pushing the margin to 8-5.
The Trojans broke the game open in the ninth. Myles Denton (Charlotte, N.C.) singled to center and later scored on a passed ball. Zach Stover (Simpsonville, S.C.) tripled to right-center to plate another run. With two runners aboard, Mauro delivered a two-run double to right-center, extending the lead to 13–-5 and sealing the outcome.
Matthews finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Harrison recorded two doubles and drove in two runs. Mauro added two hits and three RBIs, and Helms collected three hits in the victory.
On the mound, Caleb Costa (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) started for Anderson. After the early Emmanuel rally, the Trojan bullpen combined to shut out the Lions over the final eight innings.
Carson Roberts (Suwanee, Ga.) provided two scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits while striking out two. Aidan Bumgardner (Waxhaw, N.C.) earned the win with three scoreless innings, permitting one hit and striking out four. Luke Godwin (Greer, S.C.) followed with two scoreless frames and three strikeouts, and Ashton Shackelford (Beaufort, S.C.) closed the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Trojans return to league action this weekend as they make the trip to Greeneville, Tenn. for a three-game series with the Pioneers of Tusculum University.
