FLORENCE, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (1-5) bounced back from a Friday loss to earn a doubleheader split with Francis Marion University (4-2) Saturday afternoon in non-conference play. The Wasps took the first game 5-3 before falling 16-9 in game two.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 5, Francis Marion 3
GAME TWO – Francis Marion 16, Emory & Henry 9 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Florence, South Carolina
VENUE – Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-5, 0-0 SAC); Francis Marion (4-2, 0-0 Carolinas)
Game One - Emory & Henry 5, Francis Marion 3
After a scoreless first, the Wasps took an early lead in the top of the second inning. Junior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) drew a one-out walk, stole second base and came around to score on an RBI single from freshman catcher Nick Morris (Mint Hill, N.C.) to give E&H the 1-0 advantage. The Patriots answered an inning later on an RBI base knock by Zack Summerville to even things up at 1-1 through three.
FMU jumped ahead in the bottom of the sixth inning on another RBI from Summerville to make it 2-1 Patriots. E&H immediately answered in the top of the seventh. Freshman shortstop Anthony Umbach (Harrisburg, N.C.) drew a one-out walk and moved up to third on a single by fifth-year second baseman Noah Mazza (Plainfield, Ill.) and a throwing error. Senior third baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) delivered an RBI single to tie the game and senior outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) drove in another on an RBI sacrifice bunt to give the Wasps the 3-2 lead.
Owen Taylor leveled things once more in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run. The Wasps loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on back-to-back-to-back hit by pitches and Morris came through again with a two-RBI single to push E&H ahead 5-3. Junior reliever Zack McRae (Greensboro, N.C.) worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth to clinch the Wasps' first win of the season.
McRae earned the win after throwing two scoreless innings on the mound. Senior righty Bryson Wagner (Salisbury, N.C.) had a strong outing, despite the no decision, as he went five innings, allowing just one run on a pair of hits while striking out six batters. Brennan Murphy took the loss for FMU after giving up two runs over ⅓ of an inning. Morris paced the Wasps offense with three RBIs on two hits. Mazza and Foley each had a pair of knocks in the win.
Game Two - Francis Marion 16, Emory & Henry 9, (Seven Innings)
The Wasps were first on the scoreboard in the top of the first as Foley drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on an RBI groundout from fifth-year outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) to make it 1-0. E&H tallied another in the top of the second after a one-out double from junior designated hitter Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) and an RBI single by Umbach to push the lead out to 2-0. Mazza followed up with a single and Foley drove in a pair with a two-out base hit to surge the E&H advantage out to 4-0. An RBI double from Hill made it 5-0, Bradley drew a walk and fifth-year outfielder Jermie Greene, Jr. (Troutman, N.C.) launched a three-run shot over the wall in left to give the Wasps an eight-run lead.
The Patriots answered back immediately in the bottom of the second inning as they posted nine runs on nine hits to take a 9-8 advantage. Francis Marion then added another in the bottom of the third to run their lead out to two. E&H got back in the run column in the top of the fourth when Foley drew a one-out walk, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from Hill to pull back within one.
Francis Marion once again had an answer, scoring two more runs in the bottom half of the inning to increase their margin back out to 12-9. FMU continued to pile on as the Patriots scored another two in the bottom of the fifth and the bottom of the sixth as they rolled to the 16-9 victory.
Donovan Accerbi was the winning pitcher for Francis Marion as he went five innings, allowing just one run on no hits. Redshirt freshman Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) was saddled with the loss as he surrendered one run, two hits and issued three walks over 1 ⅓ innings. Greene, Jr. led E&H with three RBI while Foley and Hill each drove in a pair. Bradley and Umbach contributed the other two RBI for the Wasps.
Up Next
The Wasps enter South Atlantic Conference play on Friday, February 16 when they return to the Palmetto State to take on the Cobras of Coker University for game one of a three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Tom J. New Field.
--E&H--