EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (8-21, 5-14 SAC) fell in game one of a three-game weekend series to No. 20 nationally-ranked Wingate University (24-8, 14-5 SAC) Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs tallied 19 runs on 20 hits on their way to a 19-3 run-rule victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – No. 20 Wingate 19, Emory & Henry 3 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Wingate, North Carolina
VENUE – Ron Christopher Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-21, 5-14 SAC); Wingate (24-8, 14-5 SAC)
How It Happened
The Wasps jumped ahead in the top of the first when sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.). Junior designated hitter Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) followed with a solo home run two batters later and E&H led 2-0. The Bulldogs had an immediate response, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first, four in the third, three in the fourth and three in the fifth to give themselves a 17-2 advantage.
Emory & Henry got a run back in the top of the sixth when senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) doubled, advanced to third on a single by junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) and scored on a Wingate error to make it 17-3. The Bulldogs would tack on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to clinch the 19-3 win in seven innings.
Chad Harvey earned the win on the hill for Wingate as he gave up three runs on six hits while striking out three batters in 5.1 innings. Senior righty Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) was tagged with the loss for the Wasps as he surrendered 11 runs on 11 hits with a pair of punch outs in just 2.1 innings of work. Hoppes, Fields, Gregoire and James all finished with a pair of hits for the Wasps.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up the weekend series on Saturday with a doubleheader against the nationally-ranked Bulldogs. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Ron Christopher Stadium.
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