MARS HILL, N.C. – Anderson University baseball traveled to Henderson Field on Saturday for a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Mars Hill, with the Trojans dropping both contests despite several strong scoring chances and notable pitching efforts.
Game One: Mars Hill 4, Anderson 0
In the opening game, Anderson was able to generate early baserunners as Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) opened with an infield single, followed by a walk from Paul Colombo (Honey Brook, Pa.). Bello then reached on an error to load the bases with one out, but Mars Hill escaped the inning unharmed.
Cole Davis (Simpsonville, S.C.) delivered a strong outing on the mound, working 8.0 innings while scattering seven hits and recording seven strikeouts. He held the Lions scoreless in the first before Mars Hill pushed across two unearned runs in the second, assisted by a walk, a balk, and a pair of singles.
The Trojans looked to respond in the third when Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) drew a walk and Wells notched his second hit of the day, but a strikeout stranded both runners.
In the fourth, Colombo singled for his second reach of the game and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Bello, giving Anderson another chance with a runner in scoring position. Again, the Lions worked out of the inning to maintain their lead.
Mars Hill added single runs in the fourth and sixth to move ahead 4–0, but Davis continued battling, inducing groundouts and limiting the Lions' extra-base damage. In the eighth, Brooks Mauro (Clemson, S.C.) ripped a single to left-center before Mars Hill turned a double play to end the inning.
Anderson made one final push in the ninth when Colin Kenny (Tampa, Fla.) came to the plate as a pinch runner turned hitter, but the Lions closed the door with three straight outs to seal the game.
Game Two: Mars Hill 4, Anderson 1
The Trojans struck first in the top of the second inning after a leadoff triple from Myles Denton (Brentwood, Tenn.), who drove a ball into the right-field corner to set up an early scoring opportunity. Dylan Dampier (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) followed with a single to left-center to plate Denton and give Anderson a 1–0 lead.
Anderson continued to apply pressure in the inning when Dom Bello (Orlando, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice and Jordyn Brown (Brevard, N.C.) was hit by a pitch, but a groundout ended the threat with two runners aboard.
On the mound, Brendan Clarke (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) held the Lions scoreless through the opening two frames, retiring all six batters he faced. Mars Hill broke through in the third, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch, a throwing error, and an RBI double. Another misplay allowed an additional run to score, pushing the Lions ahead 2–1.
Clarke settled back in with a scoreless fourth and a three-up, three-down fifth, keeping the Trojans within striking distance.
Mars Hill added two insurance runs in the sixth following a walk, a single, and an RBI base hit. Clarke handed the ball to Carson Roberts (Seneca, S.C.) and later Luke Godwin (Greenwood, S.C.), who combined to limit further damage.
In the seventh, the Trojans threatened once more when Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.) was hit by a pitch and Zach Stover (Powdersville, S.C.) advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. However, a flyout stranded the runner as Mars Hill closed out a 4–1 decision.
The Trojans will have a full week off before welcoming in the Catawba Indians to Anderson Memorial Stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 3.
