MARS HILL, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (10-29, 3-14 SAC) split a doubleheader against Mars Hill University (11-29, 8-12 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference play on Monday afternoon. The doubleheader was moved to Monday due to inclement weather in the Mars Hill area over the weekend. MHU took the 20-12 win in a game one slugfest before E&H utilized four home runs to take the nightcap by a 6-2 score.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Mars Hill 20, Emory & Henry 12
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 6, Mars Hill 2 (seven innings)
LOCATION – Mars Hill, North Carolina
VENUE – Henderson Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (10-29, 3-14 SAC); Mars Hill (11-29, 8-12 SAC)
Game One - Mars Hill 20, Emory & Henry 12
The Lions got on the scoreboard first in game one. Jordan Lathe doubled down the line in left to drive in two and give Mars Hill the 2-0 lead. Dawson Connell followed up two batters later with a home run to right to increase the Lions' advantage to 4-0 after one inning. MHU added three more in the second, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Connell to make it 7-0.
The Wasps got one back in the top of the third on an RBI double from junior outfielder Wayne Mize (Salisbury, N.C.) to cut the deficit to 7-1. The Lions scored four times on three hits in the home half of the third to push their lead to 11-1. An RBI groundout from junior shortstop Kolby Anderson (King William, Va.) saw the lead reduced to 11-2 in the fourth and an RBI fielder's choice from fifth-year first baseman Matthew Long (Willow Spring, N.C.) made it 11-3.
The Lions roared back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to balloon their advantage back out to 15-3. E&H posted a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on a two-RBI triple from senior outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) but MHU responded with three runs of their own and the score stood at 18-5 after six innings.
Mize drove in two more runs with a single in the top of the eighth but again the Lions responded with two runs in the bottom half to run the score to 20-7. E&H mounted a rally in the top of the ninth inning as they loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks and Mize laced a bases-clearing double to center to score three. Junior designated hitter Cole Cunningham (Wake Forest, N.C.) then mashed a pitch over the fence in left to pull the Wasps within eight. Two more batters would draw walks, but the rally came up short and Mars Hill took the 20-12 win.
Brian Smart earned the win on the mound for the Lions as he allowed three runs and two hits over two innings of work. Junior right-handed pitcher Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.) took the loss for E&H after allowing seven runs, four earned, and four hits while issuing two free passes and striking out a pair of batters in one inning. Mize led the Wasps' offense with six RBI during game one.
Game Two - Emory & Henry 6, Mars Hill 2 (seven innings)
Long led off the top of the second inning with a walk and trotted home on a two-run home run off the bat of senior outfielder Jermie Greene, Jr. (Troutman, N.C.) to give the Wasps the early 2-0 lead. Long then launched his fifth of the year to lead off the top of the fourth inning to run the E&H advantage to 3-0 and Greene Jr. followed up with his second long ball of the game to push the lead to 4-0.
The Wasps struck again in the top of the sixth when Long laced a double into the left center gap, moved up on a groundout and touched home on an RBI single from freshman catcher Garrison Bullock (Concord, N.C.) to make it 5-0. E&H added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Bradley doubled, moved up on a groundout and scored on an RBI single from Cunningham to run the score to 6-0. The Lions tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh on two E&H errors and a hit-by-pitch, but the visitors from Emory hung on for the 6-2 win.
Junior righty Bryson Wagner (Salisbury, N.C.) spun a gem on the mound for the Wasps as he went 6.1 innings, scattering just two hits, two unearned runs and two walks while striking out five en route to earning his second win of the season. Dearl Edens was saddled with the loss for the Lions as he allowed four runs, four hits and walked three batters over 4.2 innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns home on Tuesday for a non-conference showdown against border rival King (Tenn.) University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Porterfield-DeVault Field.
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