JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Anderson snapped a nine-game losing streak by cranking out 12 hits in a 9-5 series-concluding win over Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference play Saturday afternoon at a brisk Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
"It wasn't good pitching," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "We were playing catch up. In conference games some of them are going to be tight. Yesterday we were able to play very well and get two wins. It's 2-2 and you give up a four spot and you are playing catch up. Pitching has not been as effective as we need it to be. We need some guys to step up."
Anderson (6-17, 2-7) wins for just the second time on the road this year and for the first time since Feb. 25 while Carson-Newman (10-13, 2-4) takes home a series win over the Trojans for the third straight year.
In the bottom of the first frame, C-N manufactured a run. Ryan Addington (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit a high fly ball to left field that was dropped by Avery Sneed for a two-base error to begin the inning. Eric Lynch (Boonton, N.J.) grounded out to second and Paul Kirby (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) to shortstop produced the game's first run.
A fielding error by Brett Langhorne (Mechiancsville, Va.) opened the top of the second. Kyle Cagle (Fairview, N.C.) recorded back-to-back fly outs to right field prior to walking the bases loaded. Avery Green hit a double to left field to score a pair and put Anderson ahead 2-1.
The Eagles pulled even in the bottom of the second. Gooch Greer laced a double to center field that one-hopped the fence with one out. After a pop out, Langhorne dropped down a perfect bunt up the third base line on a 2-1 pitch for bunt single to score Greer and knot the score at two.
The Trojans batted around in the top of the third inning scoring four times with two outs. With runners at second and third base, Jackson Strange produced the first of four straight two-out singles driving in a pair. Tyler Miller and Green pushed singles into the outfield to provide the other two runs to go ahead 6-2.
Anderson stretched the advantage to 7-2 as Strange started the top of the fifth with a solo home run on a 0-1 offering over the left-field fence for his second long ball of the season.
Miller singled to left-center field and a throwing error by Robert Plohr (O'Fallon, Mo.) put two on with no one out. Williams Thomas struck out and with the infield in, Carson Barrett bounced a ball over Kirby at first base to score the pair to extend the advantage to 9-2.
Carson-Newman pulled within five scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs making it a 9-4 contest. Ethan Goforth (Blacksburg, Va.) hit a high fly ball to right field that Stephen McKnight dropped to allow both runners to cross the plate.
Andrew Dill entered in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the first two batters walking Addington, The lead-off batter moved to second base on catcher's indifference and scored on a single to center field by Lynch. Kirby drew a walk to put two on. Cade Snapp (Seymour, Tenn.) hit a drive to the warning track in center field to close out the game.
Lynch tallied two of Carson-Newman's six hits on the day going 2-for-4 with a run batted in. The Eagles used seven different pitchers on the afternoon as Hunter Dodson (Huntersville, N.C.), Ryan Victory (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Austin Conner (Sevierville, Tenn.) combined to toss 1.2 scoreless frames to complete the game.
Anderson starter John McMicking (1-3) limited the Eagles to three runs, one earned, on five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
Strange and Green each drove in three runs for the visiting club while Miller and Barrett each notched three hits.
The Eagles are back in town for a game scheduled on Tuesday against Limestone at 3 p.m. The Eagle Sports Network will have the coverage on cneagles.com/live with audio and video streams starting at 2:45 p.m. with "The Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to First Pitch".
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