EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (12-29, 6-22 SAC) ran out to an early lead, but could not hold on as the Wasps fell to Mars Hill University (22-21-1, 16-11-1 SAC) in game one of their South Atlantic Conference weekend series. The Lions rallied for 13 unanswered runs to take the win by a 16-5 final in eight innings.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Mars Hill 16, Emory & Henry 5 (Eight Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (12-29, 6-22 SAC); Mars Hill (22-21-1, 16-11-1 SAC)
How It Happened
Emory & Henry got on the board in explosive fashion in the bottom of the first inning. Junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) walked, junior first baseman Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) singled and senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) launched a ball over the wall in left for his third home run of the year to put the Wasps in front 4-0.
Both pitchers put up zeros in the second and third innings, but the Lions finally broke through with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth to draw within one at 4-3. E&H tallied another run in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) and Rodriguez recorded back-to-back singles and Fields plated Hoppes with an RBI base knock to increase the Wasps' advantage back out to two runs at 5-3.
That was all of the offense that Emory & Henry could muster as Mars Hill erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh and nine more in the top of the eighth to earn the 16-5 run-rule victory.
Junior pitcher Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) was saddled with the loss for the Wasps after allowing seven runs, four earned, on eight hits while striking out a pair of batters. Austin Kutz earned the win on the mound for Mars Hill as he threw all eight innings, giving up five runs on seven hits with three punch outs. Park finished with four RBIs while Fields was 3-for-4 with a run driven in.
Up Next
The Wasps wrap up the three-game series with a doubleheader against the Lions. First pitch of game one is scheduled for noon from Porterfield-DeVault Field. Saturday is Senior Day for E&H and the Wasps will be honoring the 13 members of the graduating class prior to first pitch.
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