NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (5-10, 3-6 SAC) fell in both games of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to Newberry College (11-7, 7-2 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Wolves outlasted the Wasps 2-1 in a pitchers' duel in game one, before slugging their way to a 12-7 victory to take the nightcap.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Newberry 2, Emory & Henry 1
GAME TWO – Newberry 12, Emory & Henry 3 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Newberry, South Carolina
VENUE – Smith Road Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (5-10, 3-6 SAC); Newberry (11-7, 7-2 SAC)
Game One - Newberry 2, Emory & Henry 1
Newberry was first on the board in the bottom of the first inning when the Wolves put together a run on a pair of hits to jump ahead 1-0. NC made it 2-0 in the home half of the second on another RBI double. Neither team could break through over the following four innings as both starting pitchers kept the bats silent.
Emory & Henry finally broke through in the top of the seventh. Junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) singled, senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) doubled and senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) drew a walk to load the bases. Senior outfielder Isaiah Bracy (Henrico, Va.) delivered an RBI sacrifice to plate one run, but that was all the Wasps could muster and the score stood at 2-1. E&H managed to put a runner in scoring position in the eighth, but could not push another run across and the Wolves hung on for the 2-1 win in the opener.
Nick Riedel earned the win on the mound for Newberry as he went seven strong innings, allowing the lone run on six hits while striking out five batters. Junior lefty Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) took the tough loss for the Wasps despite a yeoman's effort on the hill as he went all eight innings, surrendering just two runs on six hits while fanning five Newberry batters. Seven different Wasps recorded one hit each with Bracy providing the lone RBI.
Game Two - Newberry 12, Emory & Henry 3 (Seven Innings)
The Wolves took the lead for the second time in as many games as they put up four runs on three hits in the bottom of the first to establish an early 4-0 margin. Newberry struck again in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four more runs on a pair of knocks to increase their lead to 8-0.
Emory & Henry got a run back in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on a single by junior infielder Ryan Paynton (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and scored on a sacrifice fly from senior designated hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) to reduce the deficit to 8-1. Newberry had an immediate response, scoring two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to push their advantage out to 12-1. The Wasps would push two across in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough as the Wolves took game two by the 12-3 final.
Cayden Hansen was the winning pitcher for Newberry as he threw four scoreless innings, giving up just three hits while striking out a pair. Sophomore pitcher Cole Gillis (Charlotte, N.C.) suffered the loss for E&H after giving up eight runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. Park had a pair of hits for the Wasps while two other batters had one hit each.
Up Next
Emory & Henry steps out of conference play on Tuesday, March 3 when the Wasps travel to take on the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. from Belmont, North Carolina.
--E&H--