ANDERSON, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team (4-3) completed the three-game sweep over Anderson (S.C.) University (2-5) Saturday by winning both ends of a doubleheader. The Wasps took game one 2-1, and held off a Trojan rally to win game two by a 7-5 margin.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 2, Anderson 1 (S.C.) (seven innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 7, Anderson (S.C.) 5
LOCATION – Anderson, South Carolina
VENUE – Anderson Memorial Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-3, 0-0 SAC); Anderson (S.C.) (2-5, 0-0 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 2, Anderson (S.C.) 1 (Seven Innings)
The two teams were held scoreless through the first inning and a half but the Trojans struck first in the bottom of the second. Anderson put the leadoff man on base via a two-base error and brought him around to score on a two-out base hit from Gray Wells to make it 1-0.
E&H responded in the top of the third as senior infielder Noah Mazza (Plainfield, Ill.) and junior infielder Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) had back-to-back singles to get the inning underway. A fielder's choice from senior outfielder Tyler Bradley (Bessemer City, N.C.) moved Mazza up to third and he then scored on a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Wayne Mize (Salisbury, N.C.) to level things at 1-1.
Junior designated hitter Lane Gay (Keedysville, Md.) started the top of the fourth with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman catcher Garrison Bullock (Concord, N.C.) and came around to score on an RBI single from fifth-year infielder Mason Lyda (Mills River, N.C.) to run the score to its eventual final at 2-1.
Junior right-handed pitcher Andrew Parr (Opelika, Ala.) was masterful on the mound for Emory & Henry as he went the distance, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out three en route to earning his second win of the season. Mazza had a pair of hits to lead the offense while Mize and Lyda had the two runs batted in to bring each of their season totals to seven.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 7, Anderson (S.C.) 5
The Wasps opened the scoring in the top of the third inning of game two when Mazza singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an error when Bradley put the ball in play to give E&H the early 1-0 advantage. Emory & Henry struck again in the fourth after back-to-back singles from senior catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) and junior infielder Kolby Anderson (King William, Va.) put runners in scoring position. Foley then reached on an Anderson throwing error that scored two more to make it 3-0.
E&H added another in the top of the sixth behind a single from Bailey, a sacrifice bunt from Anderson and an RBI single off the bat of Foley to run the Wasps' lead to 4-0. It looked as if the visitors would cruise to the easy win, but the Trojans would not go away easily and posted one run in the bottom of the sixth and tied things up with a three spot in the home half of the eighth.
Foley led off the top of the ninth with a walk, Bradley reached on a fielder's choice and Mize was plunked by a pitch to load the bases with no one out. Gay came up huge with a two-RBI single through the middle of the diamond to put the Wasps back in front. Senior outfielder Christian Schmidt's (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) RBI single increased the cushion to 7-4. The Trojans got one back in the bottom half, but it was not enough and the Wasps completed the weekend sweep with a 7-5 victory.
Junior right-handed starting pitcher Bryson Wagner (Salisbury, N.C.) was nearly untouchable on the mound, dealing five scoreless innings without allowing a hit and fanning eight Trojans as he was handed the no decision. Senior pitcher Zach Clover (Cary, N.C.) was awarded the win as he threw three innings and struck out three batters. Sophomore Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) struck out two and preserved the win in the ninth, earning his first save of the season. Bailey and Schmidt each had two hits in game two, while Gay recorded a game-high two RBI.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will make the short jaunt to Bristol, Tennessee on Tuesday for a midweek showdown with border rival King (Tenn.) University. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the King Baseball Field.
—E&H—