ANDERSON, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (8-19, 5-13 SAC) bounced back with a pair of wins over Anderson (S.C.) University (17-13, 5-13 SAC) on the road in South Atlantic Conference play Saturday. The Wasps downed the Trojans 13-7 in game one, before trouncing Anderson by a 15-2 margin in the nightcap.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 13, Anderson (S.C.) 7
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 15, Anderson (S.C.) 2 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Anderson, South Carolina
VENUE – Anderson Memorial Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-19, 5-13 SAC); Anderson (17-13, 5-13 SAC)
Game One - Emory & Henry 13, Anderson 7
Anderson jumped ahead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Wasps had an answer in the top of the second. Junior first baseman Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) doubled and senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) drew a walk. Senior designated hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) drilled an RBI double to score Fields and freshman catcher Jaxon Ehret (Davidson, N.C.) followed with a two-RBI base knock to score Nester and Park. Ehret stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before coming home to score on an RBI groundout from junior second baseman Jeriel Lamboy (Caguas, PUERTO RICO) to give E&H a 4-1 lead.
Anderson responded with a run in the home half of the second, but both teams were kept off of the scoreboard until the sixth. Emory & Henry got back on the board in the top of the sixth when Park singled and came around to score on another RBI double by Nester. Sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) followed a batter later with an RBI triple to plate Nester and the Wasps' advantage stood at 6-2.
E&H added to its lead in the top of the seventh when sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) and sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) led off with back-to-back singles. Junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) delivered an RBI base hit and Fields delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to score Hoppes. Nester launched a two-RBI home run to run the score to 11-2. The Trojans got three runs back on two hits in the bottom of the seventh, but the Wasps continued to add to its lead in the top of the eighth. Callahan reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lamboy drew a walk and both moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Hoppes plated one with an RBI single and Park doubled down the line in right to score two more to increase the margin out to 13-5. Anderson would put up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Wasps took game one by the 13-7 final score.
Junior lefty Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) earned the win on the mound after allowing just two runs on three hits while fanning a pair of batters over six innings of work. Senior reliever Brady Halstead (Indian Trail, N.C.) picked up his third save of the season as he threw three innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts. Cole Davis took the loss for Anderson as he surrendered six runs on five hits in 5.1 innings on the hill. Nester led the offense with four RBIs on three hits while Ehret and Park both drove in a pair.
Game Two - Emory & Henry 15, Anderson 2 (Seven Innings)
Emory & Henry flipped the script as they took an early lead with a run in the top of the first. Rodriguez laced a two-out double, Fields singled and senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) drove in a run with an RBI base hit. The Wasps added another in the top of the third when Hoppes singled and advanced to third on a groundout and a wild pitch. Fields delivered another sacrifice fly and the Wasps led 2-0.
The Emory & Henry bats exploded for seven more runs in the top of the fifth to give themselves some breathing room. Rodriguez singled and stole second and Fields was hit by a pitch. E&H scored runs on four consecutive errors by the Trojans to push their lead out to 6-0. Rodriguez plated a run on a sacrifice fly and Fields drilled an RBI hit to balloon the visitors' lead to 9-0.
Anderson finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs on two hits, but Emory & Henry had an immediate response in the top of the seventh. Barker launched a solo home run with one out to make it 10-2. Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, Fields walked and Gregoire singled to load the bases. Park drew a bases-loaded walk to plate one run and junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) blasted a bases-clearing double to score three runs. Emory & Henry rounded out the scoring on yet another error as they completed the doubleheader sweep by a 15-2 final.
Sophomore righty Cole Gillis (Charlotte, N.C.) was the winning pitcher for the Wasps as he went all seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout. Brendan Clark was saddled with the loss as he gave up three runs on eight base hits in four innings of work. James paced the Wasps with five RBIs, while Fields, Gregoire and Park all had a pair of runs driven in.
Up Next
Emory & Henry is back at home on Tuesday, March 24 when the Wasps host the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
--E&H--