The Emory University baseball team came back from a three-run deficit against Huntingdon College, and almost compiled a second comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning, but ultimately fell short in a 7-6 loss to the Hawks.

Emory is now 14-8 on the season, while the Hawks improved to 15-5 on the season.  Despite the loss, Emory still claimed the three-game season series over Huntingdon, winning two of the three contests.

Emory starter Ben Hinojosa pitched seven strong innings for the Eagles with a season-high 115 pitches, allowing three runs, just one of which was earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters.  He lowered his season ERA to 3.05 with the effort.

All three of Huntingdon’s runs off of Hinojosa came in the fourth inning, as the freshman surrendered three hits and a walk, along with a fielding error.

Emory answered back in the bottom of the inning, as senior Patrick Riebsame continued his recent tear with a one-out triple, followed by a RBI single for junior Jay Page.  However, freshman catcher Jared Welch hit into an inning-ending double play, leaving the score at 3-1.

The Eagles would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as senior Gabe Shivers plated two runs with a two-out triple, evening the score at 3-3. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks would bring in closer Ryan Harrison, who had not allowed a run in 15 innings this season entering the game.  However, Emory would break through off the right-handed pitcher, as freshman Brandon Hannon walked to lead off the inning, stole second with one out, and scored on an RBI single from Kevin O’Connor.  Emory added another run in the inning on Page’s second RBI single of the game, scoring O’Connor and giving the Eagles a 5-3.

Emory then turned to its closer, sophomore Mike Bitanga, who allowed an unearned run in the top of the eighth on a pair of errors by Eagle infielders, and a sacrifice fly.  After Emory went down in order in the bottom of the eighth, Huntingdon added on three more runs off Bitanga in the ninth, taking a 7-5 lead, and were stopped only by an outfield assist from Hannon, who threw out a Hawk runner trying to score from second on a base hit.

The Eagles would not go down quietly in the ninth.  Senior Andrew Cohn singled to start the inning, and O’Connor followed him with a long fly ball deep into the corner in left field.  However, Huntingdon’s defensive replacement, Evan Agnew, made a full-extension diving catch to save a run from scoring and record the first out of the inning.  With two outs in the frame, pinch hitter Daniel Iturrey extended the contest with a walk, and Andrew DeYoung followed with an RBI single, making the score 7-6.  Welch would load the bases after getting hit by a pitch, but Shivers would pop out in foul territory to end the game.

Harrison pitched the final three innings for the Hawks, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks, earning the victory to improve to 4-0 on the season.  Bitanga took the loss for Emory, falling to 1-2 on the year.

Hannon extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-for-three performance at the plate, and is now batting .515 during his freshman campaign.  Junior shortstop Jonathan Reilly added a three-for-four performance, while Page was two-for-four with a pair of RBIs.

Emory will return to action on Tuesday at 3:00 PM, hosting DePauw University in the third game of a five-game home stand.