CENTRAL, S.C. – Anderson produced 14 hits and built an early lead before holding off a late rally to defeat Southern Wesleyan, 9-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Connor Field.
The Trojans (16-11) opened the scoring in the first inning. Brooks Mauro (Clemson, S.C.) singled before Myles Denton (Brentwood, Tenn.) added a base hit to put two runners on. Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Mauro, and Dom Bello (Orlando , Fla.) delivered an RBI single to center to give Anderson a 2-0 lead.
Anderson extended the advantage in the fourth inning. Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) tripled to center field to begin the frame, and Mauro reached to keep the inning alive. Denton then drove in two runs with a single to left field, pushing the Trojan lead to 4-0.
Southern Wesleyan scored its first run in the fifth, but Anderson answered in the sixth inning. Denton tripled to left-center to score Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.), and Wells followed with another RBI single to give the Trojans a 6-1 advantage.
Southern Wesleyan rallied with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap to 6-5. Anderson responded in the seventh inning when Adams Faucett (Spartanburg, S.C.) walked and later scored on a double from Harrison. Medford added an RBI single later in the inning to extend the lead to 8-5.
The Warriors added a run in the seventh inning to make it 8-6 before Anderson tacked on an insurance run in the ninth. Harrison reached on a walk and eventually came home on a wild pitch to provide the final margin.
Denton led the Anderson offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Harrison finished with two hits, including a double and a triple, and scored three runs. Wells added two hits and two RBIs, and Mauro also collected two hits. Bello and Medford each drove in a run as the Trojans totaled 14 hits in the contest.
On the mound, Luke Godwin (Greenwood, S.C.) earned the win after allowing two hits over four scoreless innings while striking out three. Caleb Costa (Mount Pleasant, S.C.), Carson Roberts (Seneca, S.C.), Charlie Sauls (Estill, S.C.), George Massingill (Greenville, S.C.), and Walker Noland (Marietta, Ga.) all appeared in relief.
Luke Parson (Tampa, Fla.) worked a scoreless ninth inning and struck out one to record the save and secure the 9-6 victory for the Trojans.
Anderson returns to action this weekend at home as they play host to the Wasps of Emory & Henry for a three-game series starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
