EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (3-15) exploded for nine first-inning runs on its way to a non-conference victory over border rivals King (Tenn.) University (4-15) Tuesday afternoon. The Wasps dispatched the Tornado by a 15-11 final margin.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 15, King (Tenn.) 11
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (3-15, 1-8 SAC); King (Tenn.) (4-15, 2-7 Carolinas)
How It Happened
The visiting Tornado jumped ahead with three runs on two hits in the top of the first inning, but the Wasps had a big answer in the home half. Freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) singled and fifth-year outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) drew a walk to put runners on base. Senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) delivered a three-run bomb over the wall in left to immediately tie things up at 3-3. E&H was not done as junior designated hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) singled and sophomore third baseman Jack Ferguson (Abingdon, Va.) followed with a double to put a pair in scoring position. Fifth-year catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) laced an RBI single to center to score Nester and fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) delivered an RBI groundout to plate Ferguson and the Emory & Henry lead increased to 5-3. Fifth-year second baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) drilled a two-RBI single to left that allowed Bailey and Hill to score, then swiped third base. Hoppes reached on an error that scored Foley and Hensley nailed an RBI double down the line in left to round out the scoring as the Wasps lead ballooned to 9-3 after one inning.
Emory & Henry would add another run in the bottom of the second when Nester walked, Ferguson singled and they both moved up on a wild pitch before Bailey's RBI groundout increased the margin out to 10-3. King got a pair of runs back in the top of the third on a two-run home run off the bat of Nathan Borchardt, but the Wasps responded in the bottom of the third. Foley was hit by a pitch, then stole second and third base. Hoppes drew a walk and Hensley's sacrifice fly saw Foley come home to score. Hoppes advanced to second on a wild pitch, then came around to score on Bebber's RBI single. Nester smashed his second home run in as many games to push the E&H margin out to 14-5 after three.
The Tornado slowly worked their way back into the ballgame as they scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth and two more in the sixth to draw within four at 14-10. The Wasps put another run on the scoreboard in the home half of the sixth when Hill singled, Lewis reached on an error and Foley drove in Hill with an RBI single to make the score 15-10. King would score one more in the top of the seventh, but that was as close as the visitors would get as Emory & Henry earned the 15-11 win.
Freshman pitcher Easton Walker (Statesville, N.C.) picked up his first collegiate win on the mound after getting the final two outs of the third inning while striking out a batter. Jack Judd took the loss for King after allowing nine runs, seven earned, and six hits over just .2 innings. Bebber led the offense for E&H with four RBIs on a pair of hits. Foley finished with three RBIs on two hits while Nester, Hensley and Bailey all drove in a pair of runs.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns to South Atlantic Conference action this weekend when they visit the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University for a three-game series. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Friday at 4:00 p.m. from Harrogate, Tennessee.
--E&H--