ANDERSON, S.C. – Behind a bases-loaded, pinch-hit walk-off single by Nick Vella in the opener and an offensive explosion in the nightcap, the Anderson baseball team ran its season-opening win streak to eleven by sweeping a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Clarion, 4-3 and 13-2, at Memorial Stadium.
Anderson made it four straight in less than 24 hours over the Golden Eagles and won its 11th consecutive contest, while Clarion fell to 0-4.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Game #1
Anderson 4, Clarion 3
Kye Andress was 1-for-3 in the opener, with a triple and also reached on a walk and scored two runs, including the game-winner. Jackson Van Ness added a double and a single and scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, while Justin Fox posted a single and reached on a first-inning walk, while also getting hit by a pitch. Brayden Owens was 1-for-3, with a third-inning single.
PITCHERS
Andrew Imperatore drew the start and allowed two runs on six hits over 4.2 innings on the mound. He struck out seven batters and walked four. Jackson Herring captured his second win of the season after striking out the only batter he faced in relief in the top of the seventh inning.
Game #2
Anderson 13, Clarion 2
Andress was 2-for-3 in the nightcap, with a triple and a single and also reached base on a pair of walks. Jaxon Young reached on a walk, and added a single and a three-run triple, while scoring a pair of runs. Carlos Hernandez posted a three-run double and reached on a walk.
PITCHERS
Freshman Walker Noland improved to 2-0 on the season by surrendering just two runs on four hits over five full innings. He fanned five and did not walk a batter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Trailing, 3-2, heading into their final at-bat and staring their first loss of the season, the Trojans rallied to score a pair of runs and pulled out the win.
Clarion took advantage of a two-out single and a triple to score a solo run in the top of the first inning, with the Trojans rallying for two runs in their half of the third inning. Andress led off the frame with his second triple of the season and crossed the plate when Fox followed with an RBI-single back up the middle. The Concord, N.C., native promptly swiped second and then moved to third when LeGrand flied out to center and scored when Carlos Hernandez bounced out to the left side of the infield.
The Golden Eagles took a late lead on a double to lead off the seventh and grabbed a 2-1 edge following a wild pitch and a single.
But the Trojan offense, which had been held to five hits through six innings, came to life when Van Ness singled back up the up the middle with one out. Andress followed with a walk and Fox loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. LeGrand then drew a full-count, bases-loaded walk to deadlock the score and Vella followed by ripping an 0-1 pitch through the right side of the infield to plate Andress with the winning run and the Trojan dugout emptied.
Game 2
The Trojans trailed, 2-1, after 2 ½ innings, but batted around and erupted for four runs in the bottom of the third inning, then sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning and built a 10-2 cushion.
AU rounded out the scoring with three more runs in the sixth to set the final score.
NOTABLES
• Kye Andress is riding an 11-game hitting streak.
• JC LeGrand has reached base safely in all 11 games.
• Brayden Owens has reached base safely in four straight games.
• Jackson Van Ness is on a four-game hitting streak.
• The Trojan pitching staff leads the South Atlantic Conference with a 2.18 ERA.
• AU hurlers have struck out 119 batters, while issuing 44 walks.
• The Trojans are sixth in the league with a .297 batting average.
UP NEXT
AU travels to Lander on Tuesday, before playing host to Southern Wesleyan, Wednesday afternoon. First-pitch vs. the Bearcats in Greenwood is set for 5 p.m.
