MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan University Baseball Team (2-15, 1-8 Carolinas) defeated Emory & Henry College (7-13, 2-4 SAC) in extra innings on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks overcame a four-run deficit on two separate occasions to win in walk-off fashion by a 15-14 margin.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Chowan 15, Emory & Henry 14 (10 innings)
LOCATION – Murfreesboro, North Carolina
VENUE – Hawkins Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (7-13, 2-4 SAC); Chowan (2-15, 1-8 Carolinas)
How It Happened
The Wasps took the lead in the top of the first as junior third baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) and senior centerfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) each drew walks and advanced on stolen bases. Senior left fielder Christian Schmidt (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) delivered a two-RBI single to make it 2-0 and freshman catcher Garrison Bullock (Concord, N.C.) followed up with an RBI single of his own to push the Wasps in front 3-0. Junior second baseman Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) rounded out the first inning scoring with an RBI single that plated Bullock and junior first baseman McCray Sawyers (Stuart, Va.) scampered home on an error to make it a 5-0 advantage.
The Hawks struck back in the bottom of the third inning with a two-RBI single from Carrington Williams followed by another RBI single off the bat of Warren Bailey to trim the Wasps' lead to 5-3. Chowan added three more runs on two hits, including a solo home run from Chris Bartholomew, in the bottom of the fourth to take their first lead of the day at 6-5. CU utilized three hits and an error to tack on three more in the home half of the fifth to increase their cushion to 9-5.
The Wasps would respond in the top of the seventh. Bradley walked, Schmidt singled and junior designated hitter Lane Gay (Keedysville, Md.) walked to load the bases before a wild pitch pushed across a run. Senior outfielder Jermie Greene, Jr. (Troutman, N.C.) registered an RBI groundout and another wild pitch scored a third run. Bullock tied things back up at 9-9 with an RBI single up the middle and Foley ripped a two-RBI single into the outfield as E&H retook the lead at 11-9.
The visitors from Emory extended their lead in the top of the eighth as Greene, Jr. singled, Bullock drew a walk and Hensley cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple. Junior shortstop Kolby Anderson (King William, Va.) lashed an RBI single through the left side of the infield to run the margin to 14-9 in favor of the Wasps.
The Hawks rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, as they loaded the bases and a two-RBI single from Williams cut the score to 14-11. Down to their final out of the afternoon, William Bailey launched a three-run home run over the fence in right to tie things up once more at 14-14 and send the game into extra innings. After a scoreless top half of the tenth, Rowan Hudson led off the home half with a solo shot over the leftfield fence to give Chowan the walk-off 15-14 victory.
Landon Oughton earned the win on the mound for the Hawks as he went two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two batters. Sophomore right-handed hurler Luke Kennedy (Irmo, S.C.) took the loss as he surrendered the winning home run in extras.
Hensley and Greene, Jr. led the E&H offense with three knocks each and Hensley added a team-high three RBI. Eight of the nine starters for the Wasps registered a hit while Foley, Schmidt and Bullock had two RBI apiece.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns to South Atlantic Conference play this weekend with a three-game home series against No. 14 nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University. First pitch of Friday's game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
—E&H—