Emory University’s Mark Mazur hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, and a walk off single with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, lifting the Eagles to a 9-8 win over sixth-ranked Birmingham Southern College in their 2010 season finale.

Mazur’s home run was the first of his career, and came leading off the eighth inning to give the Eagles a 7-5 lead at the time.  Emory added on another run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Jeremy Bolian to take a lead heading into the ninth.

However, with two outs and two on in the top of the ninth, Birmingham Southern’s Bryan Higginbotham hit a three-run home run, tying the game at eight runs apiece.

In the bottom of the ninth, Emory’s Gabe Shivers would lead off by beating out a ground ball to shortstop.  The next batter, Jonathan Reilly, attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, but the ball was thrown to second, not in time to get Shivers, putting runners at first and second.  After a sacrifice bunt from Patrick Riebsame and an intentional walk to Andrew Cohn loaded the bases with one out, Mazur played the hero again, hitting a 1-2 pitch into the left field corner and winning the game for Emory.

Mazur, who entered the game in the third inning as a defensive replacement, finished the game two-for-three with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.  Emory’s Jay Page added a two-for-three performance with four RBIs, including three on a bases-clearing double that keyed a five-run fourth inning.  Bolian added a pair of RBIs as well for Emory, and Shivers went three-for-five with an RBI to finish the year with a team-high .421 batting average.

The Eagles used seven pitchers during the game, including three seniors playing in their final game as an Eagle – Will Gumm, Adam Genn and Matthew Katten.  However, it was freshman Caleb Long who earned his first career victory in the game, despite giving up the three-run home run in the ninth, finishing the season with a 1-1 record.

The victory was not only Emory’s first walk off win during the campaign, but also the team’s first one-run victory of the season.  The Eagles had previously been 0-6 in one-run games.

The Eagles salvaged a split of the series with Mazur’s hit, after Emory dropped a 2-0 decision in a game earlier in the day, which was a continuation of a contest halted in the top of the third inning due to rain on Friday in Birmingham, AL. 

Despite seniors Zeb Heidt and Brian Cournoyer combining to allow just two runs on seven hits to one of the top-ranked offenses in the country, the Eagles were unable to get their offense going in the game.  It was just the second time during the year that the Panthers were held to two or less runs all year long.

With the split, Emory finished the season with a 19-20 record.  Birmingham Southern moved its record to 34-5 on the season, ending a 18-game winning streak.

Sunday was also Senior Day for the Eagles, who said goodbye to seven of its graduating players – Brian Cournoyer, Adam Genn, Will Gumm, Zeb Heidt, Matt Katten, Dan Molnar and Marc Terranova.  Over the past four years, the seven have helped the Eagles to a 111-59-1 record, two UAA Championships, and a second-place finish in the nation in 2007.

The game ends the 2010 season for the Eagles.