GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (1-12, 0-6 SAC) put up a fight, but dropped both games of its South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to Limestone University (9-6, 4-2 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Saints took game one 17-8 before taking the nightcap by a narrow 13-12 final score.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Limestone 17, Emory & Henry 8
GAME TWO – Limestone 13, Emory & Henry 12 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Gaffney, South Carolina
VENUE – Founders FCU Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-12, 0-6 SAC); Limestone (9-6, 4-2 SAC)
Game One - Limestone 17, Emory & Henry 8
Limestone was first on the board as they tallied three runs in the top of the first and two more in the top of the second to establish an early 5-0 advantage. The Saints added one more in the third inning before the Wasps' bats woke up in the bottom of the stanza. Freshman shortstop Anthony Umbach (Harrisburg, N.C.) reached on an error and fifth-year outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) followed up with an RBI triple then scored himself on a throwing error by the Limestone second baseman to trim the deficit to 6-2.
The Saints tacked on three more runs in the top of the fourth, but Emory & Henry would respond in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Senior third baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) led off with a single and moved up to second on a walk to Umbach. Fifth-year designated hitter Jermie Greene, Jr. (Troutman, N.C.) drilled an RBI double to score Foley and freshman catcher Nick Morris (Mint Hill, N.C.) delivered a sacrifice fly to score Umbach. Junior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) rounded out the inning with an RBI double down the line and the score stood at 9-5.
LU added another run in the top of the sixth but once more the Wasps answered back. Senior second baseman Kolby Anderson (King William, Va.) drew a leadoff walk and Foley reached on another base knock to set the stage for Bradley, who launched his first homer of the year over the wall in right to draw the Wasps within a pair at 10-8. That would be as close as they would get, as the Saints scored two in the seventh, four in the eighth and another in the ninth to take game one by a 17-8 final score.
Cale Wagoner earned the win on the hill for the Saints as he went five innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out four batters. Senior righty Bryson Wagner (Salisbury, N.C.) took the loss for E&H after surrendering eight hits and nine runs over three innings. Foley, Bradley and Greene, Jr. all finished with three hits while Bradley paced the team with four RBIs.
Game Two - Limestone 13, Emory & Henry 12 (Seven Innings)
Limestone jumped ahead for the third time in as many games in game two of the doubleheader, tallying three runs over the opening two innings. The Wasps' bats exploded in the bottom of the second. Senior designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on sophomore catcher Garrison Bullock's (Concord, N.C.) first career home run. Umbach and freshman second baseman Devin Daproza (Leonia, N.J.) were issued back-to-back free passes and both touched home on an RBI double from senior outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.). Hill scored on a wild pitch, Bradley was hit by a pitch and Bebber drew another walk before Howell scored them both on a two-RBI double to close out the inning with E&H holding a 7-3 lead.
The Saints put up a run in the top of the third and Bullock left the yard once more in the home half of the inning, this long ball of the solo variety to push E&H's advantage out to 8-4. Limestone would not go quietly, scoring seven runs on four hits, a pair of walks and a pair of hit batsmen to jump back in front 11-8. The Wasps responded again in the bottom of the fourth when Umbach drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded, Daproza drove in a run with a fielder's choice and Foley evened things up at 11-11 when he reached on an error, scoring Bullock.
LU had an answer for every Emory & Henry rally on the afternoon, as they scored a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to retake the lead once more 13-11. The Wasps mounted a rally in the last inning after Daproza walked, moved up to third on a Foley single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Greene, Jr. but it would be too little too late as they could not come up with the game-tying hit and fell by the 13-12 final.
Marty Neal was the winning pitcher for Limestone after throwing four innings, scattering just one hit and four runs, two unearned, while fanning seven batters. Redshirt freshman pitcher Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) was saddled with the loss for the Wasps after allowing three runs on six hits over 2 ⅓ innings on the mound. Foley led E&H with three hits while Bullock finished with a team-high three RBIs. Hill and Howell each drove in a pair in the losing effort.
Up Next
The Wasps hit the road once more next weekend as they return to the Palmetto State for a South Atlantic Conference series against the Trojans of Anderson (S.C.) University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Friday, March 1 at 4:00 p.m..
--E&H--