ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson baseball team wrapped up a four-game homestand with a 9-4 setback to archrival Erskine in nonconference action, Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium.
Anderson fell to 8-24 on the season, while Erskine improved to 24-9 with its third win in four outings and earned a half-point in the chase for the Beville Cup. The Trojans currently lead the battle for the coveted Beville Cup, 7-3 ½ and need one point to bring home the trophy for the fifth consecutive year and eighth time in the last 10 years
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore designated hitter Carson Barrett was 1-for-3 on the night and drove in three runs with his fourth home run of the season. Senior Xavier Peralta added a pair of singles, drew a fourth inning walk and was also hit by a pitch.
Junior William Thomas was 2-for-5, with a pair of singles.
Freshman Christian Carpenter (1-3) suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work on the mound. Freshman Brent Reynolds tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief and gave up two runs on a pair of hits, while fanning four batters and walking just one. Sophomore John McMicking posted a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Flying Fleet jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning, with Barrett's three-run blast over the right-field wall answering for the Trojans and giving AU a 3-2 advantage.
But Erskine erupted for seven runs in the top of the third inning on the strength of a pair of home runs to take a 9-3 lead. Neither team scored over the next four innings, with AU wrapping up the scoring with a solo run in the bottom of the eighth frame. Peralta led off with a single, while Jackson Strange was hit by a pitch and Stephen McKnight drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Joseph Strange's groundout to the right side brought home Peralta with the contest's final run.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will look to get back in the win column when they embark on an 11-game road swing over the next two weeks. AU travels to Coker for a three-game South Atlantic Conference set this weekend, with first-pitch on Friday slated for 3 p.m.
