EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (10-24, 6-17 SAC) split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Coker University (9-26, 7-16 SAC) Friday afternoon. The Cobras rallied from behind in game one to take the 12-6 win, before the Wasps took game two of the doubleheader by an 8-4 margin.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Coker 12, Emory & Henry 6
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 8, Coker 4 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (10-24, 6-17 SAC); Coker (9-26, 7-16 SAC)
Game One - Coker 12, Emory & Henry 6
Neither team could break through in the run column over the opening two innings of play, but the Cobras struck first for a run on one hit in the top of the third to jump ahead 1-0. The Wasps had a response in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) singled and junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Junior second baseman Jeriel Lamboy (Caguas, PUERTO RICO) scored one on a double and sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) followed with an RBI groundout to plate another. Sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) kept things going with an RBI base knock and junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) rounded out the scoring with an RBI single of his own to push the Wasps in front 4-1.
After a scoreless fifth, Coker put up two more runs in the top of the sixth but again the Wasps answered in the bottom of the inning as Callahan roped a solo home run over the wall in left to make it 5-3. The teams traded solo shots in the seventh as Luke Alford went deep for the Cobras and James matched him with a long ball of his own in the bottom half to run the score to 6-4. Coker put up one run in the top of the eighth and exploded for seven runs on seven hits and two errors in the ninth to take game one 12-6.
Wyatt Tucker earned the win on the mound for the Cobras as he threw 3.2 innings of relief, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out three batters. Senior righty Brady Halstead (Indian Trail, N.C.) took the loss for the Wasps after surrendering eight runs, four earned, on nine hits with a strikeout. James paced E&H with a 4-for-5 game, while sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) collected a trio of hits.
Game Two - Emory & Henry 8, Coker 4 (Seven Innings)
It was all Emory & Henry to start the second game of the doubleheader. Freshman catcher Jaxon Ehret (Davidson, N.C.) reached on an error and Callahan launched his second home run of the day to give the Wasps an early 2-0 lead. E&H added four more runs in the bottom of the third when Hoppes singled, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and junior first baseman Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) left the yard for a three-run shot. Park joined in on the home run parade with a solo bomb of his own and the home team led 6-0.
Emory & Henry added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth when Callahan walked and came around to touch home on an RBI hit off the bat of Barker, who then swiped second base and scored a run of his own on an RBI single from Hoppes to increase the margin out to 8-0. Coker would mount a rally in the top of the ninth as they scored four runs, but it was not enough as the Wasps held on for the 8-4 victory.
Junior lefty Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) picked up the winning decision after throwing 6.1 strong innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out a pair of Cobras. Casey Cleghorn was the losing pitcher for Coker as he gave up eight runs, six earned, on nine hits including a trio of home runs. Sophomore reliever Hunter Word (Kenbridge, Va.) earned his first save of his career as he came in to retire the final batter of the game with the bases loaded. Fields led the offensive attack with a pair of hits and three runs driven in. Hoppes and Rodriguez each had a pair of knocks while Callahan drove in two runs of his own.
Up Next
The Wasps wrap up the three-game series on Saturday with a single game against the Cobras. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field.
--E&H--