HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Anderson baseball team came away with its third straight split of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Coker, winning game one, 4-2, but falling in the nightcap, 7-5, at Tom J. New Field.
Anderson moved to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in league action, while Coker improved to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the SAC.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Game #1
Anderson 4, Coker 2
Junior Chandler Castleberry was 1-for-2 in the opener, with a two-run homer in the first inning, while Tyler Berry added a bases-loaded walk in the third inning. Junior Jacob Kohns was 1-for-2, with a single and also added a fourth-inning walk.
Sophomore hurler Andrew Imperatore (2-0) got the start on the mound for the Trojans and surrendered just two runs on one hit in 4 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out five Cobras and walked four. Senior Christian Carpenter earned his second save of the season with 2 1/3 innings of relief. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed 2 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit, while striking out five of the eight batters he faced.
Game #2
Coker 7, Anderson 5
Castleberry was 2-for-3 in the nightcap, with an RBI-double and an RBI-single to go along with a first-inning walk. The Waxhaw, N.C., native was also hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. Kohns added a pair of singles and an RBI in four trips to the plate, with Adams adding a double and a walk and scoring twice. Berry drove in a pair of runs and Nick Vella reached on a single and a walk.
Junior Will McSwain (0-1) suffered the loss after going six full innings in relief. He allowed four runs on four hits, while striking out six and issuing just two free passes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Trojans took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Castleberry clubbed his second home run of the season beyond the fence in left-center following senior Cody Adams' one-out walk.
AU added another run in the top of the third on Berry's bases-loaded walk with two outs, with the Cobras getting on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in their half of the third by capitalizing on a back-to-back walks and a two-out double by second baseman Cam Murray.
The Trojans threatened in their next at-bat by getting two runners on with one out but both Justin Fox and Trevor Weisner were left stranded.
Coker returned the favor in the bottom of the fifth by getting runners at first and third with two outs to chase Imperatore, while Carpenter came on to fan the final Cobra batter and get out of the jam.
Leading by the one run in the top of the sixth, the Trojans' Weisner singled to the left side of the infield with one out and pinch-hitter Tanner Bray then drew a walk. Both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball and Weisner crossed the plate with an insurance run when Fox bounced into a fielder's choice.
Carpenter allowed a hit in the bottom of the sixth, but struck out two of the four Cobras he faced, then earned the save by striking out two more batters and retiring Coker in order in the bottom of the seventh.
"We had a great start offensively in game one," said Anderson head coach PJ Zocchi. "I thought we had opportunities to put the game away but give credit to Coker's pitchers - they made pitches and got outs. Andrew (Imperatore) attacked hitters and gave us a chance to win. That's all we ask out of our starters. Carpenter came in and attacked the zone with confidence."
Game 2
Castleberry drew a one-out walk, moved into scoring position on Vella's single down the left-field line and crossed the plate to give AU a quick 1-0 lead when Berry came through with a clutch two-out single through the right side.
Coker responded with a two-run first inning to claim a brief lead, before the Trojans sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the third and took advantage of three singles and three walks to come away with three runs and retake a 4-2 lead.
The Cobras knotted the score at 4-4 by adding two runs in the fourth frame and took the lead for good with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Trojans climbed within two in the top of the ninth on the strength of back-to-back doubles by Adams and Castleberry, and managed to get the tying run on first with two outs, but were unable to finish off the rally.
"I have to do a better job preparing for game two of the day," added Zocchi. "I need to find the right mix to get the boys ready. Free bases were the game-two nemesis. The bottom line is if we limit free bases we win the day. Offensively we will be better at making adjustments."
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans outhit Coker, 12-7, on the afternoon.
TROJAN NOTABLES
• Chandler Castleberry extended his hitting streak to five games.
• Jacob Kohns has at least one hit in the last three games.
• Nick Vella, Chandler Castleberry and Justin Fox have reached base safely in all seven games.
UP NEXT
The Trojans and Cobras are scheduled to wrap up the weekend league series with another twin bill, Sunday afternoon. First-pitch is set for noon.
