ANDERSON, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (2-3) defeated Anderson (S.C.) University Baseball Team (2-3) in game one of a three-game weekend non-conference series on Friday afternoon. The Wasps used an eight-run fourth inning to propel them to the 13-8 win.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 13, Anderson (S.C.) 8
LOCATION – Anderson, South Carolina
VENUE – Anderson Memorial Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-3, 0-0 SAC); Anderson (S.C.) (2-3, 0-0 SAC)
How It Happened
The Wasps came ready to play, as junior infielder Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) led off the game with a single then immediately swiped second base. Junior outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) drew a walk and junior outfielder Wayne Mize (Salisbury, N.C.) drove home Foley on an RBI single to push E&H in front 1-0. A wild pitch moved both runners up and junior first baseman Cole Cunningham (Wake Forest, N.C.) added to the lead with an RBI groundout. Junior designated hitter Lane Gay (Keedysville, Md.) scored Mize on an RBI single and fifth-year infielder Mason Lyda (Mills River, N.C.) closed out the first inning scoring with another RBI base knock to run the Wasps' advantage to 4-0.
The Trojans responded with two runs in the bottom of the first and another two in the home half of the second inning to even things at 4-4. Anderson would jump ahead in the third inning with three more to increase their advantage to 7-4
E&H loaded the bases in the fourth after a walk from senior catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) and back-to-back hits from Lyda and senior infielder Noah Mazza (Plainfield, Ill.). Foley singled home Bailey and a sacrifice fly from Bradley scored Lyda to trim the deficit to 7-6. Mize walked to load the bases and Cunningham delivered with a big two RBI single to push the Wasps back ahead 8-7. Gay added another RBI on a double down the line and a bases loaded single from Lyda scored two more to put Emory & Henry up 11-7. The Wasps were not done in the inning, as Mazza drove in another on his second base hit off the frame to make it 12-7 in favor of the visitors from Emory. In all, E&H sent 14 batters to the plate while recording eight runs on seven hits during the road half of the fourth. Anderson answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning to draw back within 12-8.
The bullpens settled in after the fourth and both squads were kept off of the scoreboard through the eighth inning. Foley led off the ninth with another knock, advanced to second on Bradley's walk and scored an insurance run on an RBI single from Cunningham to increase the E&H margin to 13-8. Lyda sealed the win for E&H, recording the final out of the eighth and tossing a scoreless ninth on the hill.
Foley and Lyda had three hits each to lead the offense while Cunningham had a game-high four RBI. Lyda drove in three runs and Gay drove in two of his own. Six different Wasps posted multiple hits in the winning effort.
Senior right-hander Nick Cerrato (Oswego, Ill.) was huge for the Wasps out of the pen, working 3.2 scoreless innings and fanning three batters on his way to earning his first win on the mound as a Wasp.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up the three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one has been moved up to 10:30 a.m. due to the threat of inclement weather.
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