ANDERSON, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (1-0) got the 2025 season underway with a big come-from-behind win over Anderson (S.C.) University (0-1) Saturday afternoon. The Wasps overcame an early 1-0 deficit to trounce the Trojans by a 10-4 final margin. The game played between the two South Atlantic Conference teams was contested as a non-conference matchup.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 10, Anderson (S.C.) 4
LOCATION – Anderson, South Carolina
VENUE – Anderson Memorial Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-0, 0-0 SAC); Anderson (S.C.) (0-1, 0-0 SAC)
How It Happened
The Trojans opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as they capitalized on a hit-by-pitch, wild pitch and a fielding error to push across the opening tally of the game and take the early 1-0 advantage. Both pitching staffs settled in over the following three innings of play as each team was kept off of the scoreboard.
The Wasps' bats woke up in the top of the fifth inning. Fifth-year catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) led off the frame with a walk, but was erased on a fielder's choice on an attempted sacrifice bunt from senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.). Freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) followed with a walk and Lewis moved up on a wild pitch. Fifth-year second baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) was also walked to load the bases. Senior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) came up big with a two-out, two-RBI single to push across a pair of runs and give E&H the lead. Senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) came up clutch as he drilled a three-run home run over the fence in left field to balloon the Wasps' lead out to 5-1. E&H was not done as fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) singled, fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) walked and Bailey delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Howell and push the score out to 6-1.
Emory & Henry added to its tally in the top of the sixth inning. Hoppes drew another walk and Foley and Smith were both hit by pitches to load the bases once more. Bebber continued his big day as he laced a two-RBI single down the line in right to score Foley and Hoppes and run the E&H lead out to 8-1. A wild pitch from the Anderson hurler scored Smith and the Wasps held a commanding 9-1 advantage. The Trojans struck back in the bottom of the seventh inning with a pair of runs to draw back within six at 9-3, but E&H answered in the top of the eighth. Smith drilled a one-out single and advanced to second on a Trojan fielding error to set the stage for Bebber once again. The senior first baseman took advantage as he singled up the middle to plate Smith and increase the visitors from Emory's margin back out to 10-3. Anderson would score an unearned run in the bottom of the inning, but it was nowhere near enough as the Wasps opened their season with a resounding 10-4 road victory.
Junior pitcher Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) earned the win on the mound for the Wasps as he turned in a solid performance, allowing just two earned runs on five hits over 6.1 innings while fanning a pair of Trojan batters. Corben Childers was the tough-luck loser for Anderson after he gave up a pair of earned runs on just one hit, but struggled with his command as he issued four free passes. Sophomore reliever Jacob Iverson (Fort Mill, S.C.) threw .2 scoreless innings with a strikeout and fifth-year pitcher Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill, Mass.) sealed the deal for the Wasps as he went two innings without allowing an earned run while striking out three Trojans.
Bebber's big day paced the Wasps as he finished with a career-high six RBIs on three hits, including the long ball, while also scoring one run. Smith had a pair of RBIs and scored a pair of runs while Bailey added one run driven in to help the E&H cause. Foley, Bebber, Hill and Bailey all stole a base in the win for the Wasps.
Up Next
Emory & Henry wraps up its three-game set against Anderson with a Sunday doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1 p.m..
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