EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (2-15, 1-8 SAC) picked up its first South Atlantic Conference victory of the season Saturday afternoon as the Wasps split a doubleheader against Southwest Virginia rival the University of Virginia's College at Wise (16-4, 6-3 SAC). The Cavaliers took game one by a 10-3 margin, before the Wasps stormed from behind for a walk-off 4-3 victory in game two. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – UVA Wise 10, Emory & Henry 3
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 4, UVA Wise (Eight Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-15, 1-8 SAC); UVA Wise (16-4, 6-3 SAC)

Game One - UVA Wise 10, Emory & Henry 3
The Cavaliers scored early and often in game one of the doubleheader as they tallied one run in the first, three in the third, three in the fifth and one more in the seventh to take an 8-0 lead. The Emory & Henry offensive attack woke up in the home half of the seventh inning. Fifth-year catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) led off with a double to right, then fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) reached on an error by the Wise third baseman as both runners moved to second and third respectively. Freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) drilled a two-RBI double through the left side of the infield to reduce the deficit to 8-2. Fifth-year outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) delivered a sacrifice fly two batters later to plate Hoppes and the score stood at 8-3. The visitors from Wise would go on to add two more insurance runs in the top of the eighth to take game one by the 10-3 final. 

Justin Snider was the winning pitcher for Wise as he went six innings, scattering two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out a pair of batters. Freshman pitcher Cole Gillis (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss for E&H after surrendering seven runs on six hits with one strikeout over four innings of work. Hoppes paced the Wasps with three hits and a pair of RBIs while Hensley, senior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) and sophomore second baseman Jack Ferguson (Abingdon, Va.) all recorded a pair of base knocks. 

Game Two - Emory & Henry 4, UVA Wise 3 (Eight Innings)
The two teams went back-and-forth to set the tone for a game that was tight from the beginning. The Cavaliers were first on the board as they put up a run on a solo home run in the top of the second inning, but E&H had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning. Junior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) launched a solo shot, his first in a Wasp uniform, over the wall in center to lead off the inning to pull E&H level at 1-1. After UVA Wise added another run in the top of the third, Emory & Henry struck back once more. Hensley was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second, then moved up to third on a wild pitch. Smith rapped an RBI single to score Hensley and run the score even at 2-2 through three innings of play. 

Both teams were held scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings, but the visitors would go on to take their third lead of the ballgame with another solo homer in the top of the sixth. The Wasps would not go down without a fight. Down to their last out in the bottom of the seventh, Hoppes laced a double down the line in left field to set the table for fifth-year outfielder Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.). Foley came up clutch as he singled through the right side of the infield to score Hoppes and force extra innings. Fifth-year reliever John McCarthy (Hampton, Va.) kept the Cavaliers in check in the top of the eighth as he came in out of the bullpen to induce an inning-ending double play to give the Wasps a chance to win the game. Junior designated hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) was up to the task in the bottom of the eighth inning as he drove a pitch over the wall in left-center field to walk-off the Cavaliers and give the Wasps their first SAC win of the season. 

McCarthy earned the win on the mound for Emory & Henry after recording the final two outs of the eighth. Sophomore righty Jacob Iverson (Fort Mill, S.C.) took the tough no decision despite an outstanding effort on the hill as he gave up just three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over 7.1 innings of work. Bo Trantham took the loss for UVA Wise after allowing the game-winning home run. Hoppes was once again the catalyst for the Wasps' offense as he went for three more base hits. Four other E&H batters each recorded a knock. 

Up Next
Emory & Henry steps out of conference play on Wednesday when the Wasps welcome border rival King (Tenn.) University to Emory. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Porterfield-DeVault Field. 

--E&H--