EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry Baseball Team (8-20) won both ends of a doubleheader to complete the three-game series sweep over Bluefield State University (3-22) Saturday afternoon. The Wasps slugged their way to a 16-4 win in game one, before rallying for a come-from-behind 16-7 victory in the nightcap. Fifth-year second baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) set yet another E&H program record as he recorded his ninth career triple in game one of the double dip.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 16, Bluefield State 4 (Seven Innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 16, Bluefield State 7
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (10-20, 3-12 SAC); Bluefield State (3-22)
Game One - Emory & Henry 16, Bluefield State 4 (Seven Innings)
The Big Blue took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run from Alejandro Moreno, but the Wasps answered back in the bottom of the second. Fifth-year catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) laced a one out single, fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) reached on a bunt single and both moved up on an error. Senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) drew a walk to load the bases. Freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to right to give the Wasps the lead 2-1 and Hoppes and Lewis executed a double steal a pitch later to plate another run. Hoppes would come across to score on a wild pitch and E&H held a 4-1 lead.
BSU tallied one run in the top of the third but once again Emory & Henry answered in the bottom of the inning when fifth-year outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) and Bailey reached on back-to-back singles and Hill drove in Hensley with a sacrifice bunt to make it 5-2. The Wasps erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hensley singled, Bailey reached on a fielder's choice and Hill laced an RBI single through the middle of the diamond. Lewis drove in another run on an error and Foley plated Hill with an RBI fielder's choice. Hoppes delivered a sacrifice fly to center and senior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) cleared the bases with a two-run home run to push the Emory advantage out to 11-2.
Bluefield State got a pair of runs back in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer from Tyson Mickie, but Emory & Henry poured it on with five more scores in the home half. Hensley singled, Bailey walked and Lewis drove in another run as he reached on an error. Foley laced a two-RBI triple down the line in left to score Lewis and Bailey, then touched home on Hoppes's sacrifice fly. Smith homered for the second time in as many innings to send the game to its final score at 16-4.
Sophomore pitcher Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) earned the win on the mound for E&H as he went five strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six batters. Junior pitcher Alex Vaught (Wytheville, Va.) struck out a pair of hitters in the seventh to clinch the win. Hoppes finished with four RBIs while Foley and Smith each drove in three. Hill and Lewis each contributed a pair of RBIs in the win for E&H.
Game Two - Emory & Henry 16, Bluefield State 7
Emory & Henry got the scoring underway in the bottom of the first inning when Smith launched his third home run of the day, this one of the two-run variety, to push the Wasps ahead early 2-0. BSU had an immediate answer in the top of the second as the Big Blue tallied three runs on three hits to take a 3-2 lead. Hensley led off the bottom of the inning with a triple and scored on a balk to level things at 3-3 after two.
The Bluefield State bats came alive over the next three innings as they recorded one in the third, two in the fourth and another in the fifth to increase the margin out to 7-3. Emory & Henry got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on Lewis's second home run of the season, then scored another in the bottom of the sixth when Hensley doubled and touched home on junior catcher Ky Gregoire's (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) RBI double as the deficit was reduced to 7-5. Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, but the Wasps would not be denied as they mounted a massive rally in the bottom of the eighth.
Senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) got the party started as he led off the inning with a solo home run. Fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) followed with a double and Hensley was hit by a pitch to force a pitching change. The new BSU pitcher struggled as he threw three consecutive wild pitches to score both Howell and Hensley to give E&H the lead. Gregoire walked, Hill doubled and Lewis was intentionally walked to load the bases. Hoppes plated one run on a fielder's choice and Smith drove in another with a sacrifice fly. Howell came through with a big three-RBI double to center field to clear the bases and give the Wasps a 13-7 lead. E&H was not through however, as Hensley singled and freshman outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) blasted a three-run homer over the wall in center, the first of his career, to round out the scoring and give the Wasps the 16-7 victory.
Junior righty Brady Halstead (Indian Trail, N.C.) picked up the win on the hill for E&H after he worked a perfect top of the eighth inning. Fifth-year reliever Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.) threw a scoreless ninth to preserve the win. Smith, Howell and Barker all finished with three RBIs while Lewis, Hill, Gregoire, Bebber and Hoppes each had one run driven in. Hensley was 3-for-4 with four runs scored to pace the offense.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up its homestand on Tuesday, March 25 when the Wasps host No. 3 nationally-ranked North Greenville University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
--E&H--