EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (16-32, 7-21 SAC) dropped game one of a South Atlantic Conference weekend series to Wingate University (24-23, 14-14 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs pounded out 19 hits on their way to the 17-10 victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Wingate 17, Emory & Henry 10
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (16-32, 7-21 SAC); Wingate (24-23, 14-14 SAC)
How It Happened
The Bulldogs got the ball rolling in the top of the first as they tallied a pair of runs on just one hit to jump ahead 2-0. E&H responded in the bottom of the second inning. Senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) reached on a fielding error and moved up to second when fifth-year outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) was hit by a pitch. Fifth-year catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) plated Bebber with an RBI single to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Wingate increased its lead with two runs in the top of the third and two more in the top of the fourth to push the margin out to 6-1. Emory & Henry struck back in the bottom of the fourth when Bebber walked, advanced on a wild pitch and came around to score on an RBI base knock from Hensley to make it 6-2. The visitors exploded for six runs on four hits and an error in the top of the sixth inning as they saw their advantage reach 12-2.
The Wasps would not go down without a fight as they clawed back in the home half of the sixth. Freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) led off with a walk and scored on a two-run home run off the bat of senior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.). Bebber singled and fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) reached on an error to set the stage for Bailey who launched a three-run shot over the wall in left. Fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) followed with a single and senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) rounded out the scoring with a two-run home run of his own. When the dust settled, the Wasps had brought themselves back within striking distance at 12-9.
WU had an immediate answer as the Bulldogs scored four in the top of the seventh and another in the top of the ninth to give themselves some breathing room. Emory & Henry got a run back in the bottom of the ninth on a RBI base hit from Hensley, but it was not enough as Wingate took the series opener by the 17-10 final score.
Kelan Hoover picked up the win on the mound for Wingate as he allowed six runs, four earned, over five innings of work. Junior pitcher Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) took the loss for E&H after surrendering eight runs on 10 hits while striking out four batters in 5.1 innings. Carson Starnes earned his first save of the season for WU as he threw 3.2 innings in relief, allowing just one run on four hits. Bailey paced the Wasps offensively with four RBIs on a pair of hits. Smith, Hensley and Lewis all drove in a pair of runs for Emory & Henry.
Up Next
The Wasps will wrap up the 2025 regular season on Sunday with a doubleheader against the Bulldogs. E&H will honor its senior class with Senior Day festivities before the first pitch of game one. First pitch is scheduled for noon from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
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