BELMONT, N.C. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (12-27) fell on the road in non-conference action to Belmont Abbey College (28-12) Tuesday afternoon. The Wasps recorded 11 hits, but came up short by a 13-6 final score.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Belmont Abbey 13, Emory & Henry 6
LOCATION – Belmont, North Carolina
VENUE – Abbey Yard
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (12-27, 4-17 SAC); Belmont Abbey (28-12, 17-7 Carolinas)
How It Happened
The Wasps got the scoring underway in the top of the first inning when freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) drew a walk, stole second base, moved up to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to give E&H the early 1-0 advantage. After a Belmont Abbey solo home run in the bottom of the first, the Wasps added another in the top of the second. Fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) reached on an error and advanced to second base. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Howell to touch home and push E&H back in front 2-1.
The Crusaders struck back with a run on a pair of hits and an Emory error in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game once more at 2-2. The back-and-forth affair continued in the top of the third as freshman outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) led off with a single and stole second. Fifth-year second baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) followed with a single to put runners on first and third. After a double play almost ruined the Wasps' chance of scoring, senior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) reached on an error to score Barker and make it 3-2. BAC responded immediately with another solo homer in the bottom of the third and the score stood at 3-3 through three innings of play.
Both teams were held scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings, but Belmont Abbey blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth. The Crusaders tallied nine runs on six hits, four walks and a hit-by-pitch to take a comfortable 12-3 lead. The home team would tack on one more in the bottom of the seventh as they saw their margin balloon out to 13-3. Emory & Henry got a pair of runs back in the top of the eighth when Smith singled and senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) was hit by a pitch. Howell doubled down the line in right to score Smith and Bebber and close the gap to 13-5.
The Wasps attempted to mount a rally in the top of the ninth as Barker walked and Foley and Smith rapped back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. Bebber delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Barker, but that was as close as E&H would get as Belmont Abbey recorded the final out to clinch the 13-6 victory.
Ethan Yarbrough earned the win on the mound for the Crusaders as he allowed just one hit while striking out a batter in 1.2 innings. Junior pitcher Matthew Hollar (Manassas, Va.) was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs on three hits and a pair of walks in .2 innings of work. Smith led the way with three hits while Foley, Barker and senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) all recorded a pair of knocks. Howell drove in two runs in the loss.
Up Next
The Wasps return to South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when they host the Wolves of Newberry College for a three-game series. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Friday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. from Porterfield-Devault Field.
--E&H--