BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (6-17) picked up its third consecutive victory Wednesday afternoon as it defeated border rival King (Tenn.) University (4-19) in non-conference action. The Wasps recorded a season-high 17 hits on their way to the 16-11 win. Fifth-year outfielder Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) scored two runs to place himself atop the E&H career runs leaderboard with 134.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 16, King (Tenn.) 11
LOCATION – Bristol, Tennessee
VENUE – King Baseball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (6-17, 2-10 SAC); King (Tenn.) (4-19, 2-10 Carolinas)
How It Happened
The Wasps got on the board in the top of the first when Foley walked, moved up on an error and came around to score on a pair of wild pitches to make it 1-0. E&H added two more in the top of the second after sophomore second baseman Jack Ferguson (Abingdon, Va.) and fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) drew back-to-back walks then came in to score on a two-RBI single from freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) to push the margin out to 3-0. The Tornado would answer back in the bottom of the third inning, tallying five runs on five hits to take a 5-3 lead.
Emory & Henry had a quick response in the top of the fourth. Senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third on another King miscue. Hill doubled down the line in left to plate two runs and tie things up at 5-5. Foley reached on a bunt single and Hoppes followed with an RBI base hit to plate Hill. Fifth-year catcher Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) drilled a two-RBI single up the middle and the Wasps retook the lead 8-5. Emory was not done as fifth-year first baseman singled and Lewis plated Howell with an RBI base knock. Ferguson rounded out the scoring with an RBI single and the score stood at 10-5 through four innings of play.
The visitors from Emory added another in the top of the fifth when Hoppes singled and stole second, then a walk to Howell and a Hensley hit by pitch loaded the bases. Junior designated hitter Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) delivered a sacrifice fly to increase the lead out to 11-5. King responded with four runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the score once more at 11-11. Hensley broke the deadlock in the top of the eighth with a solo shot, his first of the year, to make it 12-11. Junior pinch hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) followed with a single and Lewis doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Hill doubled to score one and Foley singled to plate another as the Wasps saw their lead balloon out to 14-11. E&H would go on to add two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning as they earned the win by the 16-11 final score.
Junior pitcher Avery Salyer (Thaxton, Va.) picked up the win on the mound for the Wasps after scattering two runs on three hits while striking out one batter in two innings of work. Connor Haynes took the loss for the Tornado after allowing five runs, three earned, and seven hits in two innings on the hill. Hoppes finished with four hits and three RBIs to lead the attack for the Wasps. Hill had three RBIs on a pair of hits while Howell and Lewis each drove in a pair of runs.
Up Next
The Wasps return home for South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when they host the No. 13 nationally-ranked Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
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