HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (3-16, 1-9 SAC) took a lead late in game one of its three-game series against Lincoln Memorial University (11-9, 5-5 SAC), but could not hold on as the Railsplitters won the opener by a 6-5 final score. LMU hit a walkoff solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn the victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Lincoln Memorial 6, Emory & Henry 5
LOCATION – Harrogate, Tennessee
VENUE – Lamar Hennon Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (3-16, 1-9 SAC); Lincoln Memorial (11-9, 5-5 SAC)
How It Happened
It was a pitchers' duel through the opening six innings of play as both hurlers were dominant on the mound. Junior starting pitcher Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) kept the Railsplitters off of the scoreboard as he limited LMU to just five baserunners over the first six innings while picking up three strikeouts. Lincoln Memorial starter Eli Edds was up to the task for the Railsplitters as he matched Nester in keeping the Wasps' bats silent while fanning eight E&H batters.
Emory & Henry was first to break through in the top of the seventh inning. Fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) was hit by a pitch, sophomore second baseman Jack Ferguson (Abingdon, Va.) drew a walk and both moved up on a sacrifice bunt from fifth-year catcher Cam Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) to end Edds' day on the hill. Fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) loaded the bases with a walk and freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) opened the scoring with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to plate Howell. Fifth-year outfielder Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) drove in another run on an RBI fielder's choice to second and the score stood at 2-0 in favor of the visitors from Emory. The Wasps were not done as fifth-year outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) smashed a two-RBI double down the line in left to push across two more runs and increase the lead out to 4-0.
Lincoln Memorial had an immediate answer in the bottom of the seventh as they tallied five runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter to take a 5-4 lead. The Wasps leveled the score at 5-5 in the top of the eighth when senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) led off with a triple, then came in to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Howell. After a scoreless bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth, the Railsplitters walked it off in the bottom of the ninth on a solo home run from Karsten Harvey.
Easton Barnett earned the win for LMU as he worked a scoreless top of the ninth inning, striking out one batter. Fifth-year reliever Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.) took the loss after allowing the walkoff home run in the ninth. Six different Wasps had a hit while Hensley drove in two runs. Foley, Howell and Hoppes each had an RBI for E&H.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up the three-game set with the Railsplitters on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Harrogate, Tennessee.
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