Down early in the game, Emory University’s bats came alive
with a seven-run third inning to key a 15-7 victory at LaGrange
College Tuesday night.
Emory junior Gabe Shivers paced the
Eagles, finishing the night with a school-record setting six
hits, going six-for-six with four RBIs, three runs scored a double
and two stolen bases. He was one of eight Emory players
to pick up multiple hits in the game, and one of five Eagles to
have multiple RBIs.
Finding themselves in a 6-0 hole after two innings, the
Eagles battled back in the third, collecting seven runs on eight
hits and two Panther errors. Junior Patrick
Riebsame started the scoring for Emory with a two run
double that scored Kevin O'Connor and
Jonathan Reilly. Dan
Molnar, J.B. Smith, Shivers and
Ryan Jones would all drive in runs for the Eagles
during the inning, and Emory would end the frame with a 7-6
lead.
After LaGrange tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third,
Emory took the lead again with two runs in the top of the fourth,
scoring on a Smith double and a Shivers single.
Despite allowing the early runs, Emory starter Matthew
Katten would settle down to pitch three-straight scoreless
innings. Katten battled to earn the victory in the contest,
improving to 4-2 on the season.
Emory added on two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth, as
Gabe Shivers struck with his third RBI of the contest on a double,
and Reilly chipped in with an RBI single to score Shivers.
The Eagles secured the game with two more runs in the each of the
eighth and the ninth innings.
Senior Brian Cournoyer, junior Chris
Monaco and senior Zeb Heidt would go on
to each pitch a shutout inning to close the game out in
Emory’s favor.
Freshman catcher J.B. Smith added a four-for-five day at the plate
with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Shortstop Jonathan
Reilly picked up four hits as well during the game.
Emory notched 26 hits during the contest, the team's highest total
of the season and the second-best single game mark in school
history. It marked the second game in the last four that the
Eagles have picked up more than 20 hits.
Emory has now won two straight and stands at 13-11 on the season,
while LaGrange dropped to 15-12. The Eagles will return to
action at 7:00 PM on Thursday in Demorest, GA, in the opening
contest of a three-game series against Piedmont College.