LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (2-3) split its Friday afternoon twinbill with Covenant College (3-1) at the Covenant College Baseball Field. The Wasps picked up a 6-5 victory in eight innings in game one while the Scots prevailed 7-1 in the second game of the day.
Game One – Emory & Henry 6, Covenant 5 (eight innings)
Freshman first baseman Chase Kirk (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit a one-out double to right centerfield to start things off for Emory & Henry. He got the rest of the way around the bases on a throwing error by the third baseman after junior right fielder Brogan Hoover (Stephens City, Va.) singled to third base.
The Scots tied the contest with a run in the bottom of the second frame. After Sterling Witt drew a leadoff walk. After another walk and Stephen Wray's single to left field, the bases were loaded. K.C. Simmons drew the third walk of the inning for Covenant, as Witt came home to knot the contest at one run apiece.
E&H broke out in the top of the fifth with three runs. After one-out base hits by junior shortstop Jordan Woullard (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and senior second baseman Sam Line (Inman, S.C.) put runners on second and third, senior centerfielder Eric Houff (Blacksburg, Va.) blasted a three-run home run to left field to make the score 4-1.
Covenant responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth. A pair of RBI base hits from Scott Gillespie and Wray brought the Scots within one and Chris Rollins stole home to tie the contest once again.
Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning, and the game which was originally scheduled for seven frames went to extras. Junior designated hitter Caleb Rotton (Boiling Springs, S.C.) hit a two-run home run to left field, scoring freshman left fielder Andrew Stockstill (Roanoke, Va.), who led the inning off with a walk, making the score 6-4.
Covenant was down to its final out in the bottom of the eighth, but back-to-back doubles brought the Scots to within one. With a runner in scoring position, Covenant's pinch hitter struck out, as E&H went on to win 6-5.
Houff finished the game three-for-four with three RBI and a run scored while Woullard went one-for-three with two walks and a run. Eight of the Wasps' starters had hits in the contest.
Wray led the Scots offensively, going three-for-four with two RBI.
Emory & Henry senior Jessup Lambert (Independence, Va.) scattered four runs and four hits over seven innings of work striking out six, despite eight walks, earning the win (1-1). Freshman Matthew McInaw (Honey Brook, Pa.) struck out a pair in one inning of work for the save.
Alec Mitchell fell to 1-1 on the year as he suffered the loss in relief, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in four innings.
Game Two – Covenant 7, Emory & Henry 1
Covenant got out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With two on and two out, Gillespie hit a two-run homer to left field.
Emory & Henry plated a run in the top of the second sophomore third baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) hit a solo shot over the friendly left field wall to make the score 2-1. The Scots extended their lead to 3-1 after a sacrifice fly by Reid Pope drove in Wray from third base.
Covenant added two runs to make the score 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Rollins doubled to right centerfield to highlight the frame.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Scots got another pair of insurance runs. A single by Braeden Lane and a sacrifice fly by Gillespie were the difference makers in the inning, as Covenant made the final score 7-1.
Coveant's Gillespie was two-for-four with a run and three RBI while Wray went two-for-three with a pair of runs scored. Simmons finished the game with two hits and two runs.
Woullard led the way for Emory & Henry at the plate as he went two-for-two and added a walk. Christopher had the only run for the Wasps, who managed just four hits in the contest.
Micah Mabe (2-0) picked up the win for the Scots as he scattered two hits over five innings, striking out two. E&H freshman Ty Hill (Knoxville, Tenn.) went four innings as he allowed four earned runs on eight hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Emory & Henry and Covenant will take the field on Saturday at noon for the rubber game of the series.
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