The Emory University baseball team survived a late rally from Covenant College, scoring three runs in the top of the 11^th inning to defeat the Scots 12-9 at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In a game that looked like it would be a run-of-the-mill win for the Eagles, the Scots scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to turn a 9-3 deficit into an extra-inning affair.  After the Eagles left two runners in scoring position in the top of the 10^th, Covenant had a chance to win it in the bottom of the frame with two outs, as Chaston Hart hit a fly ball towards the gap in right centerfield with the game-winning run at second, but freshman Brett Lake made a diving catch to preserve the tie and send the game into the 11^th inning.

Emory would take advantage of the opportunity in the 11^th, as Brandon Hannon led the inning off with a base hit, and after he was pinch run for by Jordan Selbach, Jared Welch doubled to right field to put runners at second and third.  After a fly out and an intentional walk, Kevin O'Connor hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, driving in Selbach from third, and Jonathan Sholar followed with a two-out, two-RBI double to extend Emory's lead to 12-9.

Mike Bitanga would work around a two-out single in the bottom of the 11^th, closing out the game to improve to 5-0 on the season.  Brooks Hale took the loss for Covenant, dropping to 0-1.

Three straight one-out hits in the top of the first inning led to Emory's first run, as junior Daniel Iturrey drove in Brandon Hannon with a base hit to put the Eagles ahead early.  After a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, a groundout from Jay Page scored Jared Welch from third, and a wild pitch in the next at bat brought Iturrey across to give the Eagles an early 3-0 lead.

Covenant pulled the score closer with single runs in each of the first and second innings against Emory starter Connor Dillman.  With the score 3-2, the Scots loaded the bases with nobody out in the third, but the freshman pitcher recorded three-straight strikeouts to end the frame unscathed.

The three-straight strikeouts would be a turning point in the game for the Eagles, who immediately scored runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Hannon, scoring Brett Lake, and a sacrifice fly from Welch, extending their lead to 5-2.  Emory added to the lead with a three-run sixth inning, as Page drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly, and Josh Bokor drove in two more with a base hit.

Dillman allowed another run in the bottom of the sixth, and left after the inning with an 8-3 lead.  He ended the game with three runs allowed, two of them earned, on seven hits and three walks, while striking out five batters.

Emory added another run in the seventh on a double from Iturrey that scored Lake.  After reliever Ryan Orlovsky held Covenant scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings, he got into trouble in the ninth, allowing a two-run home run, before getting the next two batters out, and then giving up back-to-back hits.  Orlovsky would give way to Bitanga, who allowed a pair of two-out, two-run hits to tie the game before getting the final out of the inning, sending the game into extra frames.

Lake, Hannon, Welch and Bokor each finished the game with three hits, while Iturrey, Page, Bokor and Sholar each drove in two runs.  Emory matched its season high with 19 hits in the contest.

With the win, Emory is now 20-9 on the season, including a mark of 4-1 in extra inning affairs.  Covenant dropped to 15-14 on the season with the loss.

Emory and Covenant will wrap up their season tomorrow at Chappell Park, with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 PM.  In between games, the Eagles will play tribute to their seven graduating senior players – Connor McGuiness, Kevin O'Connor, Ryan Orlovsky, Jay Page, Maxim Sankey, Paul Schwendel, and Jonathan Sholar.