SALISBURY, N.C. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (13-33, 6-25 SAC) fell in game one of its final South Atlantic Conference weekend series of the year to No. 1 nationally-ranked Catawba College (36-9, 27-4 SAC) Friday evening. The Wasps held the top team in the nation to just one extra base hit, but the Catawba Indians edged E&H by a 4-1 final score.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – No. 1 Catawba 4, Emory & Henry 1
LOCATION – Salisbury, North Carolina
VENUE – Newman Park
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (13-33, 6-25 SAC); Catawba (36-9, 27-4 SAC)
How It Happened
Both starting pitchers were sharp to start the game and neither team could break through on the scoreboard over the opening three innings of play. Senior starting pitcher Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) retired the first 11 batters he faced, but Catawba finally opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a run on two hits. CC would go on to add one in the fifth and one more in the sixth for a 3-0 advantage.
The Emory & Henry bats were limited to just four hits in the first seven innings, but the Wasps put up a run in the top of the eight. Sophomore outfielder Stuart Callahan, III (Stuart, Va.) led off with a single and advanced to second on a walk by sophomore shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.). Junior first baseman Kyle Fields (Lynchburg, Va.) delivered an RBI double to plate Callahan and cut the deficit to 3-1. That was as close as the Wasps would get as Catawba scored one insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and held on for the 4-1 win.
Colt Wilkins earned the win on the hill for Catawba as he went 7.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six batters. Joe Burleyson recorded the final three outs to pick up his 11th save of the season. Nester was the tough-luck loser on the evening as he kept one of the best lineups in the country in check, surrendering just four runs, three earned, on eight hits while punching out three Catawba hitters. Senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) finished 2-for-4 while Fields drove in the lone E&H run.
Up Next
The Wasps wrap up the 2026 regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Catawba Indians. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m. from Newman Park.
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