March 15, 2008

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Anderson University scored 22 runs on 27 hits including four home runs en route to a 22-5 Conference Carolinas baseball victory over host St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Saturday afternoon at Clark Field. The Knights (9-18 Overall; 3-10 Conference Carolinas) lead the Crusaders (9-22; 3-8) 4-1 with one out and one runner on base in the bottom of the fourth of Saturday’s nightcap when play was suspended due to lightning.

The two teams will complete the seven inning game tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) starting at 1:00 p.m. from the point at which play was stopped. The series finale of the three-game league series will follow the conclusion of the suspended contest.

Freshman Walt Quattlebaum (Harleyville, S.C.) had two of Anderson’s four home runs while sophomore Matt Hill (Moncks Corner, S.C.) and freshman Ryan Saxon (Landrum, S.C.) ripped the other two Trojans blasts. Anderson had 12 total extra base hits.

Anderson did most of its damage from the top of the lineup with leadoff hitter sophomore Derek Hipp (Saluda, S.C.) going 5-for-6 with a sacrifice fly. Quattlebaum, the No. 2 batter in the Trojans lineup, also had five hits while driving in a game-high six runs. Both Hipp and Quattlebaum each circled the bases four times.

Anderson scored early and often putting runs on the scoreboard in every inning except for the third. Eight total Trojans had multiple hits including three base knocks by both Hill and Saxon, who also had four and three runs batted in, respectively.

St. Andrews scored five runs on 13 hits but left 11 runners on base. Sophomore Jeremy Fisher (Catonsville, Md.) and senior Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, N.C.) each registered three hits. Sophomore Alex Ridout (Wake Forest, N.C.) hit his first home run of the season in the fourth, a solo blast over the left field fence. The Knights scored two late runs in the ninth on an RBI-double by freshman R.J. Blasi (Hubert, N.C.) and a single by senior Jeff Hayes (Wake Forest, N.C.) that scored Blasi.

Trojans junior starter Chris Pitts (Easley, S.C.) went the distance to earn his third victory of the season. Pitts (3-5) allowed five runs on 13 hits while striking out six.

St. Andrews was working on evening the series at one game apiece to set up Sunday’s rubber game but Saturday’s nightcap was suspended in the bottom of the fourth when lightning became visible.

The Trojans took an early 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first before SAPC catapulted in the lead with two runs in the third on an Eastwood RBI-triple and a senior Sam Williams (Rockingham, N.C.) sacrifice fly.

Three of the Knights first four batters in the bottom of the fourth reach base safely before the contest was stopped. Senior B.J. Horne (Hamlet, N.C.) led off with a solo home run to left. Classmate Eric Stone (Laurinburg, N.C.) then singled up the middle and advanced to second on a sac bunt by junior J.T. Maguire (Jarrettsville, Md.). Fisher then plated Stone with a double in the right-center gap. Eastwood has a 2-2 count on him when the game was delayed with Fisher on second.

Senior starter Travis Lee (Frederick, Md.) has not allowed an earned run in his first four innings while Trojans starter, junior Luis Martinez (Palm Bay, Fla.) was chased away in the fourth after allow four runs on four hits and two walks.