EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (3-15, 1-7 ODAC) earned its first Old Dominion Athletic Conference win of the season with a doubleheader split against Eastern Mennonite University (8-7, 2-3 ODAC) Sunday afternoon at Porterfield/DeVault Field. The Wasps took game one by an 11-7 score while the Royals responded to claim a 5-4 win in the nightcap.
Game One – Emory & Henry 11, Eastern Mennonite 7
Emory & Henry got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second as senior designated hitter Kevin Nelson (Johnson City, Tenn.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The Wasps made it 4-0 with three more runs in the third and extended their advantage to 5-0 after four on a RBI single by sophomore left fielder Matthew Whisnant (Connelly Springs, N.C.).
The Royals closed the gap to 5-3 after the fifth inning by the Wasps scored two more on a single to right field by freshman third baseman Carson Bryant (Hickory, N.C.) to push their lead to 7-3. Both teams added runs in the sixth while EMU got a trio of runs to close the gap to 8-7 midway through the eighth.
Emory & Henry put up three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth with freshman centerfielder Josh Macek (Concord, N.C.) starting things off with a RBI triple. Macek was driven home on the next at bat by senior shortstop Jordan Woullard's (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) sacrifice fly. Senior first baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) capped the scoring with a solo home run to left field.
Whisnant and junior right fielder Brandon Lineberry (Hillsville, Va.) each had three hits and two runs in the game while Christopher had two hits, two runs and two RBI. Bryant drove in two runs on two hits as well. Freshman Austin Kiser (Rosedale, Va.) earned his first collegiate win, scattering four runs and nine hits over seven innings pitched. Junior Chase Kirk (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up his second save of the season.
Justin Rodriguez had two hits and scored two runs while Joe Hall, Ian Norris and Nic Love each tallied two hits and a run. Aaron Hooven took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings pitched.
Game Two – Eastern Mennonite 5, Emory & Henry 4
The Royals got out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a pair of RBI singles to center field by Ryan Hendrick and Rodriguez. E&H answered with a run in the bottom of the third as Woullard drove in Whisnant with a base-hit bunt to first base.
EMU pushed its lead to 5-1 in the fourth on a two-run single to left field by Kyle Armstrong.
A two-out single to centerfield by Christopher in the seventh drove in sophomore second baseman Hunter Jeffries (Hickory, N.C.), who led off the frame with a base hit.
Emory & Henry got within one run after scoring two in the bottom of the eighth, 5-4. The Wasps were able to hold Eastern Mennonite scoreless in the top of the ninth but could not push another run across the plate.
Kyle Mathews went three-for-four in game two while Armstrong had two hits and two RBI. Hall and Rodriguez added two hits each as well for EMU. Armstrong earned the win as well, allowing just four runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts with Austin Marzullo picking up the save.
Woullard went three-for-five in the game while Christopher, Macek and Whisnant each had two hits and a RBI. Sophomore Garrett Butler (Knoxville, Tenn.) took the loss, allowing five runs on 14 hits in seven innings of work.
Emory & Henry will take to the road on Tuesday when it travels to face Maryville (Tenn.) College at 3:00 p.m.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15