EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (9-19) snapped its 10-game losing streak with a 9-4 win over Milligan College (17-15) Thursday afternoon at Porterfield/DeVault Field. The victory over the Buffaloes was the first for the Wasps since March 6, 2006.
Emory & Henry got on the board in the bottom of the first frame. After junior first baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) singled with two outs, senior catcher Connor Wise (Cookeville, Tenn.) lined a two-run shot to left centerfield.
The Buffaloes closed the gap to 2-1 on a solo home run by Cody Hyder to lead off the top of the third inning, but the Wasps made it 3-1 on Christopher's round-tripper to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, Milligan got a single run on a double down the left field line by Ernesto Ferndandez. E&H answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs, two of which came on senior centerfielder Zack Hill's (Fries, Va.) first career home run.
The Wasps made it 9-2 with three runs in the seventh. With two runners on, Wise doubled through the left side to plate a pair. Later in the inning, senior right fielder Brogan Hoover (Stephens City, Va.) drew a bases loaded walk.
Milligan got a pair of runs back in the top of the ninth inning as Brandon Malone hit a two-out double down the right field line that came within inches of being foul.
Though they managed only seven hits on the day, the Wasps only left five runners on base. Wise had two hits and four RBI while Christopher and freshman second baseman Hunter Jeffries (Hickory, N.C.) had two hits and scored twice.
Sophomore right-hander Chase Kirk (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned the win in his first start of the season, scattering two runs and eight hits over seven innings of work with eight strikeouts.
Malone led the Buffs as he went three-for-five with two RBI while Fernandez and Hyder had a pair of base knocks each. Hunter McDaniel took the loss, allowing six run on four hits with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
Emory & Henry will continue its homestand on Saturday when it hosts Randolph-Macon College in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader at noon.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15