Anderson Sweeps Manchester Behind 11-Inning Thriller

The Anderson University baseball team posted a sweep against Manchester University during Saturday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) doubleheader in North Manchester.

Anderson (17-13, 6-7) took down Manchester (16-14, 7-6) by a score of 8-4 in Game 1. The Ravens then outlasted the Spartans 10-8 in 11 innings during Game 2.

GAME 1 SUMMARY: ANDERSON 8, MANCHESTER 4

• Jed Downham drove in Justin Reed on a sacrifice fly to put the Ravens on the board in the top of the second.
• Tyler Smitherman smashed a two-run home run in the third.
• Anderson went ahead 6-0 in the fourth behind RBI doubles from Trey Dorton and Luke Renard as well as a run-scoring single from Connor Gordon.
• Manchester cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the inning behind an RBI double from Joel Kennedy and a two-run double from Austin Knowles.
• Dorton cracked an RBI single in the fifth to put the Ravens ahead 7-3.
• Aidan Stevens delivered a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth for the Spartans.
• Smitherman singled in a run during the eighth to give Anderson an 8-4 lead.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE: ANDERSON 8, MANCHESTER 4

• The Ravens outhit the Spartans 13-6.
• Tyler Smitherman – 2-for-5, Two-Run Homer, 3 RBI's
• Luke Renard – 2-for-4, 2 Doubles, RBI, 2 Runs
• Trey Dorton – 3-for-5, RBI Double, 2 RBI's
• Landen Southern – Win (4-2), 8 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
• C.J. Williams – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
• Justin Reed – Double, 2 Runs
• Jed Downham – Double, RBI
• Griffin Wolf – Single
• Charlie Jones – Single
• Grahm Reedy – Single

GAME 2 SUMMARY: ANDERSON 10, MANCHESTER 8 (F/8)

• The Ravens went ahead 1-0 in the first after Charlie Jones scored following Justin Reed reaching on a fielder's choice.
• Grahm Reedy ripped an RBI double in the second.
• Tyler Smitherman drove in a run in the fifth after reaching on an error. Griffin Wolf singled in a run later in the inning to put Anderson ahead 4-0.
• Harrison Pittsford delivered a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning.
• Manchester went ahead 6-4 after plating five runs in the sixth. Joel Kennedy connected on a two-run blast. Brady Perez singled in a run and then Mitchell Baker produced a two-run double.
• Reed ripped a two-run double in the top of the seventh to even the score at 6-6.
• In the bottom half of the inning, Kennedy contributed an RBI single.
• Reedy evened the game at 7-7 in the eighth with a run-scoring single. The game remained knotted at 7-7 through the ninth.
• Trey Dorton led off the 10th with a single and then stole second. Reedy then singled in Dorton from second to give Anderson an 8-7 lead. Manchester retired the next two batters.
• In the bottom of the 10th, Austin Knowles led off the inning with a single. Perez then moved Knowles to second on a sacrifice bunt. Griffin Garwood singled to put runners on the corner. Baker then loaded bases with a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt. Austin Stevens produced an RBI single to tie the game at 8-8. With one out, the bases loaded and the winning run on third, Logan Nickel was able to retire the next two batters and pitch out of the jam.
• Reed belted a triple with one out in the 11th. After Manchester forced the second out while keeping Reed at third, Luke Renard drew a walk to put the runners on the corners. Renard took second on defensive indifference. Dorton then managed to single in both runs to put Anderson ahead 10-8.
• Nickel forced two quick outs in the bottom of the 11th. Knowles and Perez recorded consecutive singles, but Garwood struck out to seal Anderson's victory.

GAME 2: ANDERSON 10, MANCHESTER 8 (F/8)

• The Spartans outhit the Ravens 17-15.
• Anderson capitalized on four Manchester errors, which led to three unearned runs.
• Grahm Reedy – 4-for-5, RBI Double, 3 RBI's
• Justin Reed – 3-for-6, Triple, Two-Run Double, 2 RBI's
• Trey Dorton – 2-for-5, Go-Ahead Two-Run Single, 2 RBI's, 2 Stolen Bases, 2 Runs
• Charlie Jones – 2-for-5, 3 Runs
• Evan Doan – 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
• Logan Nickel – Win (4-3), 2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Justin Schassburger – 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
• Tyler Smitherman – Single, 2 Runs
• Jed Downham – Single
• Connor Gordon – Single
• Griffin Wolf – Single

UP NEXT

The two teams wrap up their three-game HCAC series on Sunday at 12 p.m.