EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (5-13, 3-8 SAC) was defeated in both ends of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader by Tusculum University (8-12, 3-8 SAC) Friday afternoon. The Pioneers took game one 16-4, before earning the win in the nightcap by a narrow 7-6 margin.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Tusculum 16, Emory & Henry 4 (Seven Innings)
GAME TWO – Tusculum 7, Emory & Henry 6 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (5-13, 3-8 SAC); Tusculum (8-12, 3-8 SAC)
Game One - Tusculum 16, Emory & Henry 4 (Seven Innings)
The Pioneers jumped on the Wasps early in the series opener, as the visitors put up two runs in the first, five in the second, one in the third and four more in the top of the fourth to establish a 12-0 advantage. Emory & Henry finally broke through in the home half of the fourth inning. The Wasps rallied with two outs as junior designated hitter Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) drew a walk and came around to score when junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) blasted a two-run home run for the Wasps' first runs of the contest. After a pitching change, senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) promptly welcomed the new Tusculum hurler to the game by launching the second pitch he saw over the wall in left field for a solo shot. Senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) followed suit one batter later as he deposited the ball beyond the outfield fence to complete the back-to-back-to-back long balls for the Wasps and make it 12-4. TU would have the final say of the contest however as the Pioneers scored three more runs in the fifth and a final insurance run in the sixth for the 16-4 run-rule victory.
Owen Canter earned the win for Tusculum as he threw 3.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four batters. Senior pitcher Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) took the loss after surrendering 12 runs on 13 hits over 3.2 innings of work.
Game Two - Tusculum 0, Emory & Henry 0 (Seven Innings)
Tusculum once again took an early lead in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring three runs on three hits in the top of the first inning to make it 3-0 in favor of the visitors. E&H got on the board in the bottom of the second when sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) blistered a solo home run to dead center field, his third of the year, to trim the deficit to 3-1. After a scoreless third, TU would add to its lead with a run on a pair of hits to push the margin back out to 4-1.
The Wasps had a response in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) laced a two-out double to left and Park plated him one batter later with an RBI single. James followed with a base hit and Fields brought them both home with a two-RBI double to the wall in center to tie the contest at 4-4.
TU bounced back with two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to run the score back out to 7-4. Emory & Henry mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning as Hoppes and Park each drew walks to put a runner in scoring position. Fields drilled an RBI base knock to score Hoppes and advance Park to third. Gregoire delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to plate Park and the Wasps trailed by just one. The home team could not push across the tying run however, as the Pioneers held on for the 7-6 win.
Will Webb picked up the win on the hill for Tusculum as he went 1.1 innings, giving up two runs on a trio of hits. Cooper Emery was awarded his second save of the year after retiring the final two Wasp batters. Sophomore Cole Gillis (Charlotte, N.C.) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning three batters over 4.2 innings. Fields finished with three RBIs on a pair of hits while Hoppes and senior outfielder Isaiah Bracy (Henrico, Va.) each had a pair of knocks.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up the three-game weekend series on Saturday with a single nine-inning game against the Pioneers. First pitch is scheduled for noon from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
--E&H--