ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (1-1) picked up a split in its first games of the 2013 season against North Carolina Wesleyan (1-4), Saturday afternoon. The Battling Bishops prevailed in game one, 3-1, but the Wasps took the victory in game two 8-2.
In game one, both teams got on the board with a run in the third inning. North Carolina Wesleyan plated the two decisive runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 3-1 win.
NCWC's Justin DiSanto and James Johnson each had a pair of hits, while Johnson drove in a run. Jake Alexander had a RBI and a run scored in the contest.
Junior shortstop Jordan Woullard (Inman, S.C.) had two hits for E&H and was driven home by senior centerfielder Eric Houff (Blacksburg, Va.).
Will Beasley earned the win for the Battling Bishops, scattering four hits and eight strikeouts over six innings of work. Jake Swartout earned the save.
Senior Jessup Lambert (Independence, Va.) (0-1) gave up only one earned run on seven hits in the contest, despite the loss.
In the second game, Emory & Henry jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back. The N.C. Wesleyan got within one after a two-run second inning, but the Wasps plated five runs in the top of the fourth which featured a two-run double to left centerfield by Houff.
Houff finished game two two-for-four at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Junior second baseman Caleb Rotton (Boiling Springs, S.C.) and sophomore third baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) each had a pair of hits as Rotton scored twice and Christopher drove in three runs.
Freshman Ty Hill (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up the win in his first collegiate start. He scattered six hits over five innings and struck out two batters. Freshman Chase Kirk (Knoxville, Tenn.) pitched the final two innings for E&H, striking out two in the process.
North Carolina Wesleyan's Matthew Rhyne took the loss as he gave up seven earned runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batsmen in 3.2 innings pitched.
The Wasps and Battling Bishops will meet again for the rubber match tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.
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