BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (1-3) ran out to an early 11-1 lead, but eventually fell in non-conference action to border rival King (Tenn.) University (2-4) Tuesday afternoon. The two teams combined for 38 runs and 33 hits, but the Tornado came from behind to earn the 22-16 victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – King (Tenn.) 22, Emory & Henry 16
LOCATION – Bristol, Tennessee
VENUE – King Baseball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-3, 0-0 SAC); King (Tenn.) (2-4, 0-0 Carolinas)
How It Happened
The Wasps drew first blood in the top of the first inning when sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) drew a walk, junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) was hit by a pitch and junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) drew a walk to load the bases. Senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) delivered an RBI single to plate Hoppes and give E&H an early 1-0 lead. The Tornado would respond with a run on a pair of walks, a wild pitch and an RBI groundout to tie things up at 1-1 through the first inning.
Emory & Henry retook the lead in the top of the second stanza. Junior second baseman Ryan Paynton (Walnut Creek, Calif.) drew a walk and sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) doubled down the line in right to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Hoppes followed with a two-RBI base knock to plate the pair and put E&H back on top 3-1. The Wasps were not done, as Rodriguez blasted a two-run shot over the right field fence to increase the margin out to 5-1.
E&H struck again in the top of the third inning. Senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) walked, sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) singled and Paynton reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Hoppes came up clutch once again with a two-RBI base hit through the middle to score two more runs, making it 7-1 in favor of the Wasps. Rodriguez was walked to load the bases again and junior designated hitter Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) pushed across another run on a sacrifice fly. Hoppes would scamper home on a wild pitch and the Wasps led 9-1. Park drove in his second and third RBIs of the afternoon with another run-scoring single to balloon the lead to 11-1. King bounced back in the home half of the third, putting up five runs on four hits to reduce the deficit to 11-6.
After holding the Emory & Henry bats silent in the top of the fourth, King scored again in the bottom of the inning. The Tornado tallied three runs on three hits to draw back within just a pair at 11-9. The Wasps would get back on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Park and senior pinch hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) delivered back-to-back singles and Callahan drilled his second home run in as many games, this of the three-run variety, to clear the bases and give the Wasps a 14-9 advantage. The lead would not last through the inning however, as King rallied for six runs on five hits to jump ahead for the first time in the contest at 15-14.
The Wasps would not give up as they had an answer in the top of the seventh. Callahan drew a one-out walk, then came around to score on an RBI double by Paynton to tie the game at 15-15. Paynton then touched home on a King throwing error and E&H held the lead once more, 16-15. The Tornado bats erupted in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the home team plated seven runs on the back of five hits and three walks to put them in front 22-16. The Wasps were kept off of the board in the final two innings as King held on for the win.
Dylan Willis picked up the win on the hill for King, retiring the lone batter he faced to end the seventh inning. Senior pitcher Alex Vaught (Wytheville, Va.) suffered the loss for E&H as he allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while fanning one batter in 1.2 innings of work. Park finished 4-for-5 with three runs driven in and a run scored while Hoppes was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Callahan had a pair of hits and three RBIs for the Wasps. Paynton and Barker each recorded a pair of knocks.
Up Next
Emory & Henry opens up South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when they travel to take on Southwest Virginia rival the University of Virginia's College at Wise. First pitch of Friday's game one is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from Wise, Virginia.
--E&H--