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Eagles Claim Fifth-Straight Win with Weekend Sweep of Southwestern

Eagles Claim Fifth-Straight Win with Weekend Sweep of Southwestern

Emory University stretched its winning streak to a season-long five games, as the Eagles completed a three-game sweep of a weekend series with Southwestern University with a 7-4 win at Chappell Park on Sunday afternoon.

Every Emory starter had at least one hit in the game, led by junior Brett Lake, who drove in a pair of Emory runs with a one-for-four day at the plate to increase his Division III best total to 52, and junior Wes Peacock, who went three-for-four with a double and an RBI.

Emory took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Sunday, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Lake, and a two out RBI double from senior Daniel Iturrey.  However, Southwestern would respond with three unanswered runs, plating a single run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.

The Pirates' advantage would be short lived, as Emory started off the with inning with a walk drawn by senior Jared Kahn, who would score on a double by senior Brandon Hannon in the next at bat, tying the game at 3-3.  One batter later, Lake gave the Eagles the lead for good with an RBI single.  Peacock and junior Jordan Selbach each added RBI hits in the inning, pushing the Emory lead to 6-3 after five innings.

The Eagles added another run in the seventh on an RBI groundout from freshman Philip Maldari.  Senior starting pitcher Ben Hinojosa left with the lead after five innings, giving way to seniors Robert Gross and Matt McMahon, who combined for three shutout innings.  Southwestern put an unearned run on the board in the top of the ninth, and brought the tying run to the plate with no outs, but senior Mike Bitanga induced a groundout on a bunt and two fly outs to close out the contest.

Hinojosa picked up the win, improving to 3-1 on the year with a 4.40 ERA.  He allowed just two earned runs on six hits, walking three and striking out one batter over his five innings of work.  Southwestern starter Jason Stading took the loss for the Pirates, falling to 1-5 on the year.

Emory's five-game winning streak raises the team's season ledger to 24-9 with seven games left to play in the regular season.  The Pirates, who have now lost four-straight, dropped to 10-26.

Emory will wrap-up a four game home stand on Tuesday, when the Eagles play host to Berry College at 3:00 PM at Chappell Park.