PULASKI, Va. – In a game that took over four hours, the Ferrum College Baseball Team (20-15) outlasted Emory & Henry College (9-23), 8-7 in 12 innings, Wednesday evening at Calfee Park. The game served as the annual Camp Dickenson benefit game between the two schools affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Emory & Henry got out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly be junior first baseman Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.). The Wasps made it 5-0 in the third on four hits and a Panther error. Junior shortstop Jordan Woullard (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and sophomore third baseman Chase Kirk (Knoxville, Tenn.) each had run-scoring base hits in the inning.
Ferrum got on the board in the top of the fifth on a ground ball by Casey Naff, plating Eddie McGrath, who doubled to lead off the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, E&H got two more runs to go up 7-1. Senior catcher Connor Wise (Cookeville, Tenn.) had a RBI single up the middle while junior designated hitter Aaron Sparks (Troutman, N.C.) drove in a run with a fielder's choice.
The Panthers closed the gap with three runs in the top of the sixth. Justin Cox singled, driving in a pair to highlight the frame. Ferrum added another trio of scores in the seventh to tie the contest at seven runs each.
Emory & Henry got the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with one out but could not push a run across, forcing extra innings.
The 10th and 11th frames went blank as well. Ferrum finally took the lead, 8-7, in the top of the 12th when Tayrn Hayden hit a two-out single down the left field line, pushing across Clay Massie, who led off the inning with a single.
Ferrum's Lane Deaver had three hits and scored two runs while Hayden and Cox drove in a pair each. Grant Wickliner earned the win in relief, allowing two hits and two strikeouts in two innings of work.
Senior Caleb Rotton (Boiling Springs, S.C.) went three-for-six with two runs scored while Wise and Sparks both had two hits and two RBI. Senior Brogan Hoover (Stephens City, Va.) had 5.2 effective innings on the mound, but sophomore Matthew McInaw (Honey Brook, Pa.) suffered the loss, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Emory & Henry will be back in action on Thursday afternoon when it visits Washington and Lee University for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
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