EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (17-33, 8-22 SAC) wrapped up the 2025 season with a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader split against Wingate University (25-24, 15-15 SAC) Sunday afternoon. The Wasps took game one by an 8-6 final, before the Bulldogs won the nightcap by a 12-9 margin. E&H honored the graduating class of Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.), Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.), Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.), Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.), Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.), Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.), Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.), Jaden Jones (Chicago, Ill.), Zack McRae (Greensboro, N.C.), Justin Day (Strasburg, Va.), Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.), Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.), Ross Divers (Vinton, Va.), Conner Fletcher (Salem, Va.) and John McCarthy (Hampton, Va.) prior to game one. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 8,  Wingate 6
GAME TWO – Wingate 12, Emory & Henry 9 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (17-33, 8-22 SAC); Wingate (25-24, 15-15 SAC)

Game One - Emory & Henry 8, Wingate 6
Wingate took the lead early in game one as the Bulldogs pushed across a run on one hit in the top of the first, but the Wasps answered back in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back singles from freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) and Smith set the table for Howell, who laced a two-RBI single down the line in right to put E&H on top 2-1. Both teams were kept scoreless through the second and third innings, but the two squads got back on the board in the fourth.

WU tied the game at 2-2 on the back of a solo home run from Jordan Dixon, but the Wasps had a response in the bottom of the fourth. Hensley drilled a two-out single and advanced to second base on an error. Bailey singled through the right side of the infield to score Hensley and run the score out to 3-2 in favor of the home team. The visitors retook the lead in the fifth with three runs on five hits to make it 5-3, but again the Wasps had an answer. Lewis was hit by a pitch and Foley reached on a bunt single. Smith singled to load the bases, and Howell delivered another two-RBI knock to score Lewis and Foley to tie the game once more at 5-5. 

Emory & Henry took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth when Bailey singled, advanced to second on a throwing error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Hill. Lewis doubled to score Bailey and Foley followed with an RBI base hit to score Lewis. Hoppes singled and Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Foley strolled home on a wild pitch as E&H took an 8-5 lead. The Bulldogs scored once in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Wasps took game one by the 8-6 final score.

Freshman pitcher Cole Gillis (Charlotte, N.C.) picked up his first career collegiate win on the mound as he worked three shutout innings, striking out a pair of Wingate batters. Collin McDougall took the loss for WU after allowing six runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work. Howell paced the E&H offense with four RBIs on a pair of hits. Foley drove in one run on three knocks while Hoppes, Smith, Bailey and Lewis all finished with two hits.

Game Two - Wingate 12, Emory & Henry 9 (Seven Innings)
The Wasps flipped the script to begin game two of the doubleheader as they struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Hoppes drew a one-out walk and came around to score after a single from Smith and a Wingate error. Hensley recorded a two-out RBI base hit and E&H established an early 2-0 advantage. The Bulldogs slowly crept back into the game as they scored once in the second, twice in the third and once more in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead.

Emory & Henry would not go away as the Wasps scored four more in the bottom of the fourth. Hensley and Hill drew walks and Lewis reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Hoppes laced a two-RBI single through the middle of the diamond to tie things up at 4-4. Smith followed a batter later with a two-RBI double to left to put E&H back on top 6-4. The Bulldogs' bats were relentless as they tallied three in the fifth, four in the sixth and one more in the seventh to push their advantage out to 12-6. 

The Wasps mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh. Hoppes walked, Smith doubled and Bebber scored both with a two-RBI double into the gap in right-center field. Hensley ripped an RBI double of his own to score Bebber one batter later, but that was as close as the Wasps would get as Wingate took the 12-9 victory. 

Brian Boone was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs after allowing three runs on three hits with one strikeout over 2.1 innings on the hill. Junior righty Garrett Williams (Charlottesville, Va.) was saddled with the loss as he gave up one run on one hit without recording an out. Hoppes, Smith, Bebber and Hensley all registered a pair of RBIs for E&H in the loss. 

Up Next
With the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, the Wasps will await the announcement of All-SAC teams. 

--E&H--