The Emory University Baseball teamed claimed its first victory of the 2013 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships, defeating the University of Rochester 11-7 in Sanford, Florida on Tuesday night.

The Eagles earned the win behind a strong relief effort from junior Robert Gross, who allowed just one run on four hits and a walk in three and a third innings of relief.  Gross improved to 1-0 on the season, picking up his first collegiate victory.

At the plate, Daniel Iturrey finished one-for-three with three RBIs, including a two-run home run to right field in the second inning, the first home run this season by an Emory player.  Freshman second baseman Dylan Eisner finished the game with a team-best three hits, while five other Eagles added two hits apiece to the team's 15-hit attack.

The Eagles jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the game after two innings, including the home run from Iturrey and a two RBI double from Brandon Hannon in the second.  However, Rochester began to chip away at the Emory lead, scoring five unanswered runs off starter Michael Byman.  Byman gave way to Gross with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth, but Gross induced a fly out to centerfield to end the inning.

Emory answered right back with three runs in the sixth, including two on a triple from Ryan Toscano, and another in the eighth to extend its lead to 11-5.  Rochester scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Eagles were able to hold on for the win.

The victory broke a four-game losing streak for Emory, as the Eagles improved to 7-8 overall this season, and to 1-3 in conference play.  Rochester dropped to 1-3 in 2013, with all four games coming at the UAA Championships.

The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday at 2:00 PM against UAA rival Brandeis University.