ANDERSON, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (2-14, 1-8 SAC) rallied from four runs down in the ninth to tie the game, but came up short in the rubber match of its three-game South Atlantic Conference game against Anderson (S.C.) University (10-7, 4-5 SAC) Monday afternoon. The Trojans earned the win by a 9-8 final score.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Anderson 9, Emory & Henry 8
LOCATION – Anderson, South Carolina
VENUE – Anderson Memorial Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-14, 1-8 SAC); Anderson (S.C.) (10-7, 4-5 SAC)
How It Happened
Anderson wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as the Trojans pushed across five runs on five hits and an error in the first stanza to establish an early 5-0 lead. Both teams were held scoreless through the following three innings until the Wasps broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.
Senior first baseman Nate Vasquez (Copperas Cove, Texas) was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a single from junior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) and scored on an RBI fielder's choice by freshman second baseman Devin Daproza (Leonia, N.J.) to make it 5-1. Senior outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) followed with a single and senior shortstop Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to score Daproza.
The two squads traded blows through the middle stages of the game. Anderson scored one in the bottom of sixth before E&H answered back in the top of the seventh. Daproza drew a walk, moved up to third on a single from Hensley and scored on a Foley RBI sacrifice fly to run the score to 6-3. The Trojans added another in the bottom of the seventh and senior designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) responded in the top of the eighth with a solo homer, his first of the year, to reduce the deficit back to 7-4. Anderson tacked on one more in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run to balloon their lead back out to 8-4.
The Wasps would not go away quietly and mounted a rally in the top of the ninth inning. Hensley led off with his third base hit of the day, moved up to third on a Foley single and scored on senior outfielder Matt Hill's (Pineville, N.C.) RBI double. Hill would then come around to score on a balk and the score stood at 8-6. E&H loaded the bases with a walk and a hit batter and Smith came up clutch with a two-out, two-RBI base hit to tie things up at 8-8. Anderson would get the last laugh of the series however, as they plated the winning run on an E&H error in the bottom of the ninth to take the 9-8 victory.
Jonathan Duffie got the win for the Trojans after recording the final out of the ninth inning. Junior reliever Jaden Jones (Chicago, Ill.) took the tough loss for the Wasps after allowing one unearned run over one inning while striking out three batters. Hensley led the offense with his three hits while Foley and Smith each had a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs.
Up Next
The Wasps continue their Spring Break road trip on Tuesday, March 5 when they travel to take on the Pacers of USC Aiken. First pitch has been moved up to 4:00 p.m. due to the forecast of inclement weather in the area.
--E&H--