GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (12-26, 4-17 SAC) dropped both ends of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to Limestone University (20-19, 13-11 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Saints won game one 8-3, then defeated the Wasps by a narrow 6-5 margin in the nightcap. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – Limestone 8, Emory & Henry 3
GAME TWO – Limestone 11, Emory & Henry 7 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Gaffney, South Carolina
VENUE – Founders FCU Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (12-26, 4-17 SAC); Limestone (20-19, 13-11 SAC)

Game One - Limestone 8, Emory & Henry 3
The Saints jumped ahead early in game one of the doubleheader as they scored twice in the first and once more in the second to take the 3-0 lead. After a scoreless third, the Wasps got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Senior third baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) reached on an error and moved up to second to begin the inning, then came around to score on an RBI single from fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) to cut the deficit to 3-1. 

E&H struck again in the top of the sixth inning when fifth-year second baseman Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) singled to right and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.). Smith followed with a two-run home run, his ninth of the year, to tie things up at 3-3. It was all Saints from that point however, as the home team scored four times in the bottom of the sixth and added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to take game one by the 8-3 final.

Kemper Nix picked up the win on the hill for Limestone as he allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits while striking out five batters in six innings. Sophomore lefty Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) was handed the loss for the Wasps after surrendering five runs on seven hits with one strikeout in 5.1 innings on the mound. Conner Elliott threw three perfect innings in relief out of the LU bullpen to earn his second save of the season. Foley finished with a pair of hits while Smith drove in two runs and Howell drove in one. 

Game Two - Limestone 6, Emory & Henry 5 (Seven Innings)
The Wasps flipped the script in game two as they took the lead in the top of the second. Fifth-year outfielder Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) singled and senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) and Foley drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Hoppes delivered a two-RBI single to push the first two runs across the plate. Foley scored when Hoppes stole second base and Smith drilled an RBI double down the line in right to put E&H on top 4-0. 

Emory & Henry added another run in the top of the third when Howell and Lewis singled to set the table for freshman outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.), who roped an RBI double down the line in left field to increase the visitors' advantage out to 5-0. The Saints' bats came alive in the bottom of the third as they tallied three runs on five hits, then added two more runs on a pair of knocks in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 5-5. Both teams were kept off of the scoreboard in the fifth, but LU scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning and shut down the Wasps in the top of the seventh to take the 6-5 victory. 

Cale Wagoner was the winning pitcher for Limestone as he scattered just one run and four hits over 5.1 innings of relief out of the bullpen. Senior pitcher Zack McRae (Greensboro, N.C.) was tagged with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run on just one hit in one inning of work. Hoppes had two RBIs on one hit while Smith and Barker each drove in a run. 

Up Next
The Wasps step out of SAC play on Tuesday when they travel to take on the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. from Belmont, North Carolina. 

--E&H--