EMORY, Va. – The Mansfield University Baseball Team (10-24) defeated Emory & Henry College (8-33) in the deciding third game of a non-conference series Sunday afternoon at Porterfield-DeVault Field. The Mountaineers ran out to a 5-0 lead and held on for an 8-7 victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Mansfield 8, Emory & Henry 7
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-33, 4-20 SAC); Mansfield 10-24, 3-17 PSAC)
How It Happened
The Mountaineers jumped on the Wasps early as they tallied five runs on five hits in the top of the second inning for the 5-0 advantage. E&H broke through on the scoreboard in the home half of the fourth. Sophomore catcher Garrison Bullock (Concord, N.C.) drew a leadoff walk and scored on freshman designated hitter Nick Morris's (Mint Hill, N.C.) first career collegiate home run. Fifth-year outfielder Christian Schmidt (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) doubled down the line, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore outfielder Clay Caldwell (Salem, Va.). Senior outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) reached on a bunt single then stole second base. Hensley came around to score on a Mountaineer error and the score stood at 5-4 after four innings of play.
Mansfield added a run in the top of the fifth before Emory & Henry responded in the bottom of the sixth. Junior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Schmidt to make it 6-5. The visitors posted two more runs in the top of the seventh, but once again the Wasps answered back in the bottom of the inning. Junior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) led off the inning with a solo home run, his fourth of the year, for one run and Schmidt laced an RBI single to left to score Bullock to draw the Wasps within one. E&H managed to get the tying run to third base in the bottom of the eighth, but could not push him across and the Mountaineers earned the win by the 8-7 final score.
Ryan King was the winning pitcher for Mansfield as he went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out a pair. Redshirt freshman pitcher Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) took the loss on the mound for the Wasps after surrendering five runs on five hits over two innings of work. Joseph Gleason earned the save for the Mountaineers, giving up just one run on three hits in three innings. Schmidt paced the Wasps offense with four hits and a pair of RBIs. Bullock drove in a pair while Morris had two RBIs of his own. Smith and senior shortstop Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) each added a pair of hits in the loss.
Up Next
The Wasps continue their homestand on Tuesday, April 16 when they host the Pioneers of Tusculum University for Jackie Robinson Day. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
--E&H--