After starting behind 3-0, the Anderson University baseball team found the bats and rallied past Waynesburg University to an 8-4 victory on Friday at the Chain O'Lakes Complex in Winter Haven, Fla.

In the top of the second inning, the Yellow Jackets (7-5) plated three runs, including two unearned runs as the result of two errors. Ian Trott drove in Weston Winchester on a fielder's choice. Noah Gabriel knocked in Hunter Mamie on an RBI groundout. Trott scored Waynesburg's third run of the inning after Richard Hill II reached on an error.

During the bottom of the fourth, Zayden Stiller belted a two-run double for the Ravens (5-4-1) to cut the lead to one. In the fifth, Dylan Hogan smashed a three-run home run to give the Ravens a 5-3 lead.

Waynesburg trimmed the lead to one when Brody McMillan after Kaden Flambard reached on an error. During the bottom half of the inning, Ian Potts cracked a one-out double and Daniel Barreca added a single on the next at bat. Griffin Wolf was intentionally walked with two outs to load the bases for Landon Gum. Gum then ripped a three-run double to put the Ravens ahead 8-4. The Yellow Jackets were held scoreless in the ninth and Anderson secured the victory.

"It's always tough getting off a plane, having a day off, and going out and competing, but these guys love to compete," Coach Tyler Rubasky said. "We are never out of a game and believe we can win every game we play; that showed [on Friday]. We had a rough second inning, but we responded like we do. This was a great team win."

Hogan went 2-for-5 with a three-run blast. Gum finished 2-for-2 with a three-run double and a stolen base. Wolf went 2-for-2 with two doubles. Ben Brown finished 2-for-3 with a double and Stiller produced a two-run double. Potts contributed a double and Barreca rounded out Anderson's 11 hits with a single. Brown and Barreca each added stolen bases.

"When seven of 11 hits on the day are for extra bases, you are going to score some runs. Hogan delivered a three-run homer. Wolf had two doubles while Stiller, Brown, Potts and Gum all had doubles; Gum's double came with the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth. We did a great job of situational hitting and took advantage of our opportunities."

Rhet Heckman (1-0) recorded the win for the Ravens. He struck out three batters, issued one walks and allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits in five innings. Braden Richey picked up his first save of the season. He punched out seven batters, yielded one walk and gave up one unearned run on three hits in four innings.

"It was a great pitching performance from Heckman and Richey. They battled, were in the zone and minimized with our defense turning three double plays."

Gabriel turned in a double for the Yellow Jackets. Hunter Hamilton, Winchester, Mamie and Mason Leonard rounded out Waynesburg's five hits with singles.

Ethan Erhard (2-1) suffered the loss. He struck out four batters, issued one walk and conceded four runs on five hits in four and two-thirds innings. Dalton Lucey gave one run, which was Hogan's home run, in one-third of an inning pitched. Hudson Pincavitch tossed a scoreless inning and Gavin Pratt allowed three runs in two innings.

Anderson faces off with the University of Mount Union (7-2) on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Field No. 1 of the Chain O'Lakes Complex. Mount Union is receiving votes in the latest D3baseball.com poll.