HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Anderson University (20-21, 8-19 SAC) baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader at Coker, falling 10-4 in game one before responding with a 10-6 victory in the nightcap.
Game One: Coker 10, Anderson 4
Coker used a big middle innings surge to pull away for a 10-4 win in the opener.
The two sides were scoreless through three innings before the Cobras broke through in the second and third to take a 2-0 lead. Anderson answered in the fourth, as Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.) delivered an RBI double to score Brooks Mauro (Waxhaw, N.C.) and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Coker responded with three runs in the fifth and added four more in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-1.
The Trojans pushed across a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout from Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.), and added two more in the ninth. Harrison tripled to drive in a run before Zach Stover (Powdersville, S.C.) followed with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.
Riley Matthews (Anderson, S.C.) led the offense with three hits, while Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) and Medford each added multi-hit performances.
Cole Davis (Anderson, S.C.) got the start on the mound, allowing four runs over four innings. Aidan Bumgardner (Anderson, S.C.), Carson Roberts (Anderson, S.C.), and Jace Martin (Prosperity, S.C.) each saw time in relief.
Game Two: Anderson 10, Coker 6
The Trojans responded in game two, using early offense and timely hitting to secure the split with a 10-6 victory.
Anderson struck first for the second straight game, as Harrison opened the contest with a solo home run. The Trojans added two runs in the second inning behind a two-run double from Dom Bello (Orlando, Fla.), then broke the game open in the third. Riley Matthews delivered a two-run single and Bello added a sacrifice fly to give Anderson a 6-0 advantage.
Coker chipped away with three runs in the fourth, but the Black and Gold continued to apply pressure. Bello added another sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Anderson put together a three-run sixth inning highlighted by a two-run double from Medford and an RBI single from Matthews to extend the lead to 10-3.
Coker added two runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh, but the Trojans bullpen closed the door.
Brendan Clarke (Anderson, S.C.) earned the win on the mound, working 5.2 innings while allowing five runs and striking out two. Charlie Sauls (Anderson, S.C.) and Luke Parson (Tampa, Fla.) bridged the late innings before Brady Williams (Anderson, S.C.) recorded the final outs to secure the victory.
Matthews led the offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Medford drove in two and scored three times. Bello finished with four RBIs as the Trojans totaled 11 hits in the win.
The Trojans hit the road on Tuesday, April 14 to Dahlonega, Ga. as they travel for a non-conference matchup against the Nighthawks of North Georgia.
