CENTRAL, S.C. – The Anderson University baseball team turned in a strong offensive performance Tuesday evening, scoring in six different innings to defeat Southern Wesleyan, 9–5, and earn a road victory.
The Trojans wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first. After Brooks Mauro (Clemson, S.C.) worked a walk and Levi Medford (Canton, N.C.) was hit by a pitch, Myles Denton (Brentwood, Tenn.) delivered a single to left field to drive in Mauro and give Anderson an early 1–0 advantage.
Anderson continued to build momentum in the second inning. Adams Faucett (Spartanburg, S.C.) opened the frame with a double down the left-field line, and an error allowed him to come around to score. Bryce Helms (Kershaw, S.C.) followed with a bunt single and later crossed the plate, while Braeden Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C.) added an RBI single to push the Trojans' lead to 3–0.
The Black and Gold added to the cushion in the third, capitalizing on consistent pressure. Gray Wells (Chapin, S.C.) singled and eventually scored, while Riley Matthews (Waxhaw, N.C.) walked and came home following a passed ball and a groundout by Faucett. Ryan Iannuzzo (Hicksville, N.Y.) capped the inning with an RBI single, extending the Anderson lead to 5–0.
Southern Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the third with two runs, but the Trojans quickly responded. In the fifth, Matthews reached on a walk and later scored on a wild pitch to restore a four-run cushion.
The sixth inning proved to be another key moment for Anderson. Mauro singled and Medford reached to set the stage for Denton, who ripped a double to right field to bring in a run. Wells followed with a groundout that plated Medford, extending the Trojans' advantage to 8–2.
Southern Wesleyan added two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Anderson answered again in the eighth. Matthews drew his fourth walk of the game and scored on Faucett's second double of the contest to make it 9–4.
On the mound, Anderson used a balanced pitching effort. Joshua Legnard (Moncks Corner, S.C.) started the game and struck out four over three innings. George Massingill (Greenville, S.C.) earned the win in relief, throwing 2.2 strong innings while allowing two runs, none earned, and striking out four. Aidan Bumgardner (Indian Trail, N.C.) and Jace Martin (Prosperity, S.C.) combined to bridge the game into the ninth, before Luke Parson (Tampa, Fla.) closed things out despite a late Southern Wesleyan run.
Offensively, Harrison paced the Trojans with four hits, while Denton drove in two runs and Faucett added two RBIs and two doubles as Anderson totaled 15 hits in the victory.
The Trojans return to action this weekend as they head to Wingate, N.C. for their final conference series of the season as they continue to vye for a spot in the South Atlantic Conference tournament.
