LEXINGTON, Va. – The Southern Virginia University Baseball Team (6-16) scored 11-straight runs to go up 13-5 en route to a 13-10 win over Emory & Henry College (6-23) Tuesday afternoon at Rockbridge County High School.
E&H got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a leadoff home run by sophomore centerfielder Matthew Whisnant (Connelly Springs, N.C.). The Knights responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead but the Wasps answered in the second. Freshman third baseman Carson Bryant (Hickory, N.C.) tagged a solo shot to left centerfield, tying the game at two runs apiece.
In the top of the third, Emory & Henry went up 5-2 thanks to a two-out, three-run blast by senior designated hitter Kevin Nelson (Johnson City, Tenn.). Masen Fenn drew the score to 5-4 in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run of his own.
Southern Virginia continued its 11-run spurt with five runs in the fourth. A two run double by Giovanni Prado and another two-run homer by Fenn highlighted the frame. The Knights added two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth on a home run by Tanner Wilde to go up 13-5.
Emory & Henry began a comeback with four runs in the top of the seventh. Senior first baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) drove in a pair with a double while junior right fielder Brandon Lineberry (Hillsville, Va.) and Nelson had a sacrifice fly and a RBI groundout on the next two at bats to make the score 13-9.
Christopher capped off the scoring in the top of the ninth with a two-out solo home run, for the final 13-10 score. It was the seventh round-tripper in the game between the two teams.
Seven different players for the nights had multi-hit games, led by Fenn's two-for-three outing with three runs, four RBI and two walks. C.J. Andruswas two-for-five with two runs and two RBI while Luke Smith had two hits and three runs. Justin King picked up the win, despite allowing nine runs on nine hits with six walks and four strikeouts in six innings of work. Zach McNally earned the three-inning save.
Emory & Henry's offense was paced by Christopher, who went two-for-five with three runs and three RBI. Whisnant finished the contest with a game-high three hits and added two runs scored. Nelson drove in four runs as well. Sophomore southpaw Caelan Canady (Browns Summit, N.C.) took the loss in relief for the Wasps.
E&H will be back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Greensboro College at Porterfield/DeVault Field. First pitch between the Wasps and Pride is set for 3:00 p.m.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15