EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (9-23) earned a big midweek non-conference win over visiting Concord University (8-21) Tuesday afternoon. The Wasps recorded 16 runs on 16 hits as they picked up the 16-6 run-rule victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 16, Concord 6 (Eight Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (9-23, 5-16 SAC); Concord (8-21, 2-8 MEC)
How It Happened
Emory & Henry struck first in the bottom of the first inning after keeping the Mountain Lions scoreless in the top of the first. Junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) drew a two-out walk and scored on an RBI double off the bat of junior first baseman Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) to make it 1-0. The Wasps scored another on a Concord throwing error and the score was 2-0 through one inning of play. CU would get a run back in the top of the second on a solo home run.
Both teams were kept off the board in the third, but the Wasps got back in the run column in the bottom of the fourth. Senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) walked, junior designated hitter J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) singled and junior second baseman Ryan Paynton (Walnut Creek, Calif.) singled to load the bases. Sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) cleared the bases with one mighty swing as he launched a ball over the fence in left for a grand slam to push the E&H advantage out to 6-1. The Wasps were not done in the frame as junior shortstop Jeriel Lamboy (Caguas, PUERTO RICO) doubled and Rodriguez plated him with an RBI single to increase the margin to 7-1 through four innings.
Junior starting pitcher Ivan Delp (Sparta, N.C.) was masterful on the mound through the middle innings, retiring 11 consecutive Mountain Lion hitters from the last out of the third through the first out of the seventh. Concord finally broke through in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs on a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 7-3. The Wasps had an immediate answer in the bottom of the seventh when senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) reached on an error, Paynton was hit by a pitch and sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) laid down a bunt single to load the bases once more. Barker plated one on an RBI infield single and another came across on a wild pitch to increase the Wasps' advantage back out to 9-3.
Concord would not go quietly as the visitors rallied for three runs on two hits in the top of the eighth inning to pull back within striking distance at 9-6. The Emory & Henry bats exploded in the bottom of the eighth. Gregoire led off with a double down the line in left and Park followed with a single to right. Senior pitcher Brady Halstead (Indian Trail, N.C.) came up clutch as he was forced to hit in his first career at bat since high school, delivering a two-RBI double off of the fence in center field, just missing out on a home run by inches. Paynton singled and Callahan drove in another run with an RBI single to left. Barker walked to load the bases again and Lamboy was hit by a pitch to force home another run. Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk to plate another and Fields put the finishing touches on the run-rule win with a two-RBI base knock through the left side of the infield.
Delp picked up his first win of the season on the mound as he went 6.1 strong innings, allowing just three runs on four hits while fanning six Concord batters. Ethan Evans suffered the loss for the Mountain Lions, surrendering six runs on five hits over 3.2 innings. Barker led the way as he was 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs. Fields finished with two hits and three RBIs, while Gregoire, Paynton and Callahan each collected a pair of hits.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns to South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when the Wasps host the Cobras of Coker University. First pitch of Friday's game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
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