March 15, 2008

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LAURINBURG, N.C.—Both teams scored two runs on Sunday after Saturday’s middle game was suspended at 4-1 due to lightning as host St. Andrews Presbyterian College held on for a 6-3 victory. Anderson University rallied late to win the rubber game of the three-game Conference Carolinas baseball series, 5-3, in Sunday’s regularly scheduled finale at Clark Field.

The Trojans scored three runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth to win the series to improve to 10-23 overall and 4-8 in the conference.

Senior pitcher T.J. Chrusch (Fleetwood, Pa.) did all he could do to get the Knights, who maintain a 10-19 overall and 4-11 league ledgers, by earning a save in the delayed game and then pitching seven scoreless innings to start the finale.

St. Andrews visits North Greenville University (Tigerville, S.C.) on Wednesday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. Anderson hosts non-conference Brevard College on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m.

After Anderson scored two runs in the top of the fifth of the middle game to pull within one run (4-3), but Chrusch came in and held the visitors scoreless over the final 2 2/3 innings to preserve St. Andrews victory. Chrusch was credited with his first save of the season allowing just one hit.

Chrusch, who already tossed 30 pitches earlier in the day for the extended inning save, hurled another 116 pitches in the start of the rubber game. Chursch was going for the shutout but was finally scored on in the eighth inning as he reached 146 total pitches on the afternoon. Chrusch only gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits over 7 1/3 innings. Chrusch fanned nine total Trojans on the afternoon.

Senior Travis Lee (Frederick, Md.), who started Saturday’s delayed game, tried to go deep into the game by going back onto the mound on Sunday after heaving 55 pitches the day before. However, Anderson was able to jump on Lee in the top of the fifth inning with two runs to chase him out of the game. Chrusch and St. Andrews held the Trojans to just two runs by ending the bases loaded jam by turning a double play.

Lee (1-2) earned his first win of the season allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings.

The Knights offense helped Chrusch in his save attempt by scoring two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by senior Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, N.C.).

The rubber game started as a pitchers duel between Chrusch and Trojans junior Blair Carson (Anderson, S.C.). St. Andrews scored the first three runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Eastwood led off with a single and junior Kyle Norris (Laurel Hill, N.C.) followed with a double. Senior Sam Williams (Rockingham, N.C.) then drove in both Eastwood and Norris with a double in the left-center field gap. Williams later scored on an error.

Anderson struck back with three runs in the eighth to tie the contest up at 3-3. Sophomore Matt Hill (Moncks Corner, S.C.) had an RBI-single; senior Clint Neville (McDonough, Ga.) drew a bases-loaded walk; and sophomore Trent Still (Williston, S.C.) tied the game by just beating out a double play attempt by the Knights allowing the tying run to score on the RBI- fielder’s choice.

Anderson completed the comeback with two go-ahead runs in the ninth. Sophomore Derek Hipp (Saluda, S.C.) hit a seeing-eyed RBI-single to plate the first run and Carson, who stayed in the game as the designated hitter, added an insurance run with a bases loaded sacrifice fly.

Junior Cory Welch (Anderson, S.C.) was credited with the win by pitching four scoreless innings of relief for Carson. Welch improved to 2-1 on the season by scattering just two hits while striking out three. Knights’ freshman reliever Kyle Cummings (Wake Forest, N.C.) was charged with the loss.

Eastwood and Williams had two hits apiece for SAPC while Carson was the only Trojans with two hits.

Saturday’s notes from the first half of the suspended game:

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.