HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (4-5, 2-2 SAC) pounded out 17 hits and put up 13 runs en route to a big South Atlantic Conference win over Lincoln Memorial University (6-7, 2-2 SAC) Friday evening. The series was moved to Harrogate, Tennessee due to the threat of weather in the Emory area over the weekend.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 13, Lincoln Memorial 5
LOCATION – Harrogate, Tennessee
VENUE – Lamar Hennon Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-5, 2-2 SAC); Lincoln Memorial (6-7, 2-2 SAC)
How It Happened
Both teams were kept off of the scoreboard over the opening two innings of play, but the Wasps opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) led off with a double then moved up to third on a single by sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.). Junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) laced an RBI single to left to plate Callahan and make it 1-0 Wasps. Lincoln Memorial tied things up in the top of the fourth with a run on one hit to make it 1-1.
The Wasps put up a crooked number in the bottom of the fourth inning to create some separation. Senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) singled and came around to score on a two-run home run by junior shortstop Jeriel Lamboy (Caguas, PUERTO RICO) to put E&H back on top 3-1. The Wasps were not done however. Callahan singled and Barker walked to set the stage for Rodriguez once more. He left the yard for his second long ball of the year, this of the three-run variety, to balloon the E&H lead out to 6-1. Junior designated hitter Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) walked, junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) singled and senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) walked to load the bases. Gregoire was hit by a pitch to drive in another run and the score stood at 7-1 in favor of Emory & Henry through four innings.
LMU would plate a run in the top of the fifth, but again E&H had an immediate response. Callahan singled once more and moved up on a wild pitch and a groundout. Rodriguez tallied his fifth RBI of the day on another base knock to push the Wasps' advantage back out to six at 8-2. The Railsplitters scored three runs in the top of the seventh on the back of four hits, including two solo home runs, but Emory & Henry was up to the task once again. Callahan singled and Barker laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position. Rodriguez's offensive tear continued as he drilled an RBI triple down the line in right to score Callahan. Fields launched his fourth long ball of the season to score two more runs and the Wasps lead grew to 11-5. Emory & Henry put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the eighth inning when junior second baseman Jack Ferguson (Abingdon, Va.) recorded his first career home run, a two-run shot, to run the margin to its final at 13-5.
Senior righty Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) earned the win on the hill for Emory & Henry as he went six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out five batters. Senior reliever Brady Halstead (Indian Trail, N.C.) and Rodriguez combined for three innings of shutout relief to clinch the win. Rodriguez finished the day 4-for-4 with six RBIs, coming within a double of hitting for the cycle. Fields, Ferguson and Lamboy all drove in a pair of runs while Gregoire had three base knocks and an RBI.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up the three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Railsplitters. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Lamar Hennon Field.
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