EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (13-32) split a non-conference doubleheader with Bluefield State University (17-17) Tuesday afternoon. The Wasps defeated the Big Blue 7-3 in the opener, before Bluefield State responded for an 11-7 win in the nightcap.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 7, Bluefield State 3 (Seven Innings)
GAME TWO – Bluefield State 11, Emory & Henry 7 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (13-32, 6-24 SAC); Bluefield State (17-17)
Game One - Emory & Henry 7, Bluefield State 3 (Seven Innings)
The Wasps opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) singled and junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) and junior first baseman Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) drew walks to load the bases. Senior designated hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) drove in a run on an RBI fielder's choice and freshman catcher Jaxon Ehret (Davidson, N.C.) plated another with a bases-loaded walk. Junior third baseman Jeriel Lamboy (Caguas, PUERTO RICO) delivered a sacrifice fly and the Wasps led 3-0 after one inning.
Emory & Henry added to its advantage in the bottom of the second. Sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) led off the frame with a solo home run, his team-leading eighth of the season, to push the E&H margin out to 4-0. Sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) and Hoppes singled and Rodriguez drew another walk to load the bases. Fields drilled a sacrifice fly to score one run and Ehret drove home another with an RBI single as the home team saw their advantage balloon out to 6-0. E&H would add one more run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Hoppes and the score stood at 7-0. Bluefield State scored two runs in the fifth and one more in the seventh, but it was not enough as the Wasps took the 7-3 victory.
Sophomore pitcher Hunter Word (Kenbridge, Va.) earned the win on the mound for E&H as he threw four scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out a batter. Grayson Peel took the loss for the Big Blue as he surrendered six runs on five hits with four walks over two innings. Hoppes finished 3-for-4 with an RBI to pace the offense.
Game Two - Bluefield State 11, Emory & Henry 7 (Seven Innings)
Emory & Henry took the lead for the second time on the afternoon in game two. Barker roped a leadoff triple into the gap in right-center and Hoppes laced an RBI single through the middle of the infield to give the Wasps an early 1-0 margin. Bluefield State had an immediate response in the top of the second, scoring six runs on five hits to take their first lead of the afternoon at 6-1. E&H bounced back in the bottom of the third when senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) plated a run on a BSU error to cut the deficit to 6-2.
The Wasps continued their comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior second baseman Ryan Paynton (Walnut Creek, Calif.) walked, senior outfielder Clay Caldwell (Salem, Va.) singled and Paynton came around to touch home after Barker singled and the BSU catcher threw the ball away. Hoppes walked and Rodriguez recorded another sacrifice fly to make it 6-4. After a double steal by Hoppes and Barker, a Park RBI single scored Barker and junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) followed one batter later with an RBI fielder's choice to tie the contest at 6-6.
The Big Blue recorded two runs in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run and pushed across three more insurance runs in the top of the seventh to see their advantage reach 11-6. Emory & Henry would get one run back in the bottom of the stanza, but it was not enough as the visitors earned the 11-7 win.
Jacob Frass picked up the win for Bluefield State as he recorded two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior reliever Garrett Arner (Waxhaw, N.C.) was saddled with the loss for the Wasps after allowing two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings on the hill. Barker and Hoppes each had a pair of hits while Park and Rodriguez each drove in a pair.
Up Next
The Wasps return to South Atlantic Conference play on Friday when they travel to take on the No. 1 team in the country, Catawba College. First pitch of game one of the three-game SAC series is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. from Salisbury, North Carolina.
--E&H--