EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (11-35) wrapped up its 2024 home schedule with an 8-6 non-conference win over Belmont Abbey College (22-22) at Porterfield-DeVault Field Tuesday afternoon. The Wasps overcame an early five-run deficit to take the win by an 8-6 final score.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 8, Belmont Abbey 6
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (11-35, 6-21 SAC); Belmont Abbey (22-22, 14-13 Carolinas)
How It Happened
The Crusaders wasted no time as they posted five runs on the back of a pair of home runs in the first inning to take an early 5-0 lead. Both teams were kept off of the scoreboard in the second, but the Wasps broke through in the bottom of the third.
Junior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) led off with a double down the line in left. Senior designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) and junior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Fifth-year outfielder Christian Schmidt (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) was issued a free pass to drive home the first run of the afternoon for the Wasps. Sophomore outfielder Clay Caldwell (Salem, Va.) delivered an RBI on a fielder's choice and another run touched home on a throwing error. Senior shortstop Kolby Anderson (King William, Va.) launched a two-run bomb to left and the score stood at 5-5 after three innings.
Belmont Abbey struck again in the top of the sixth when Caleb Burr drilled a solo home run to left to push the Crusaders back in front 6-5. E&H had an answer in the bottom of the seventh. Schmidt singled and moved up to third base on back-to-back balks. Junior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) perfectly executed a safety squeeze to score Schmidt and tie things up once more at 6-6 through seven.
The Wasps utilized the long ball again in the home half of the eighth frame. Smith led things off with a solo shot, his fifth of the year, and sophomore catcher Garrison Bullock (Concord, N.C.) followed suit with his ninth bomb of the season to give E&H its first lead of the day at 8-6. Senior reliever Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.) got the final three outs to clinch the win and end the Wasps' 2024 home slate with a victory.
Swarbrick earned the win as he went 1 ⅓ innings without allowing a run or a hit while fanning a pair of batters. Aidan Brown took the loss for the Crusaders after allowing the two home runs in the bottom of the eighth. Smith and Bullock led the way for the Wasps with three hits each. Anderson had a pair of RBIs while five others drove in a run.
Up Next
The Wasps travel to Newberry, South Carolina this weekend for their final South Atlantic Conference series of the 2024 season. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Friday, April 26 at 6:00 p.m. from Smith Road Complex.
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