GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Anderson University (10-4, 2-4 SAC) baseball team earned a split in Saturday's South Atlantic Conference doubleheader at Pioneer Park against Tusculum (5-9, 1-5 SAC), rallying for a 7-5 victory in the opener before falling 7-3 in the nightcap.
Game One: Anderson 7, Tusculum 5
After falling behind early, Anderson used a five-run seventh inning and a dominant relief effort to secure the 7-5 win.
Cole Davis (Simpsonville, S.C.) started on the mound and worked four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Luke Godwin (Greenwood, S.C.) entered in the fifth and turned the game in Anderson's favor. Godwin tossed four scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits while striking out six to earn his first win of the season. Ashton Shackelford (Ellerslie, Ga.) closed out the ninth, striking out two to record his second save.
Tusculum built a 4-1 lead through four innings before the Trojans chipped away. Myles Denton (Brentwood, Tenn.) led off the fourth with a solo home run to left-center to put Anderson on the board.
In the fifth, Brooks Mauro (Clemson, S.C.) was hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI single from Adams Faucett (Spartanburg, S.C.), trimming the deficit to 4-2.
The decisive rally came in the seventh. Zach Stover (Powdersville, S.C.) singled to open the inning, and Mauro followed with a walk. Dylan Dampier (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) doubled down the right-field line to plate Stover and move Mauro to third. Riley Matthews (Waxhaw, N.C.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at 4–4.
Faucett then singled through the right side, and Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) delivered the pivotal swing, launching a three-run home run to left to give Anderson a 7-4 advantage.
Tusculum pushed across one run in the ninth, but Shackelford recorded the final out to seal the victory.
Game Two: Tusculum 7, Anderson 3
Tusculum struck early in the second game and held off a late Anderson rally to earn the split with a 7–3 decision.
Trailing 7–0 entering the sixth, Anderson mounted a response. Faucett was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Matthews followed with a single through the right side. Harrison drew a walk to load the bases before Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.) reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Matthews and Faucett to score and cut the deficit to 7–2.
In the seventh, Mauro was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a stolen base. With two outs, Matthews singled to left field to drive him home and account for the final margin.
Matthews finished 2-for-4 with an RBI in the nightcap, while Medford added a double.
The Trojans return to action on Tuesday, February 24 as they return home to welcome in the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan for a non-conference match-up. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.
