The Emory baseball program will make its long-awaited return to the field this weekend with a Saturday doubleheader at Huntingdon College following Wednesday's announcement that Emory Athletics has been given the clearance to return to action. The Eagles' last competitive contest was back on March 10th, 2020.
Head Coach Mike Twardoski's 2021 squad returns 25 members from last year's team which posted an 11-4 record through the first 15 games before the remaining slate was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Headlining the returning members are 2020 All-University Athletic Association selections Michael Edelman, Jack Rubenstein and Caleb Shulman on the offensive side and junior Jack Brodsky who looks to lead the pitching staff again this season.
The senior trio of Edelman, Rubenstein and Shulman led Emory's offensive surge in 2020 as the team finished seventh in Division III with 143 runs scored while averaging 9.5 runs per game. Shulman topped the squad in average (.404), hits (21) and doubles (6) while Edelman was one of three Eagles to start all 15 games, finishing as the team leader in runs scored, doubles (6), walks (11) and stolen bases (9). His 21 runs placed him 12th among Division III leaders while his nine thefts on the bases put him 35th among the nation's best. Rubenstein, meanwhile, registered a .380 average in 15 games (14 starts) with two doubles, one triple, seven RBI and eight stolen bases. His .475 on-base percentage led all Eagles with at least 10 games played while his six hit-by-pitches (27th in DIII) helped him move into sole possession of first place on the Emory all-time career list.
Other notable returners around the diamond for the Eagles include Ryan Adelman (.308, 3 2Bs, 10 RBI), Zeke Diamond (.211, 1 2B, 5 RBI) and Jacob Singer (.321, 3 2B, HR, 10 RBI). Adelman and Diamond achieved All-UAA acclaim back during the 2019 campaign.
On the mound, seniors Jack Moore and James Robertson figure to follow Brodsky in the rotation once more in 2021. Brodsky led the Eagles' pitching staff during his second season, making four starts while striking out 28 batters in 24 innings and going 3-0 with a 3.75 earned run average. His three victories placed him 16th among Division III leaders. Moore and Robertson each struck out 13 batters while making a combined six starts and going a 3-1 as a tandem. Junior Joey Bock will also be counted on as a fourth option as a starter. In 2020, Bock posted a 1-1 record with a 3.50 ERA in six starts including one start. In the bullpen, it'll be a committee to start the season led by sophomore Aaron Mishoulam who emerged as one of the team's top options during his rookie season, converting two save opportunities to go with a 1-1 record, 3.18 ERA and 11 strikeouts in a team-leading seven appearances.
Coach T will also welcome a large collection of newcomers featuring two transfers: Robby Wacker (University of Richmond) and Ellis Schwartz (Stony Brook University) and 10 freshman: Matthew Culbert (Naples, FL), Jacob Grossman (Carlsbad, CA), Arjun Grover (Avon, CT), Steven Hunt (Valencia, CA), Tyler McLoughlin (Milton, GA), TJ Roeder (La Mesa, CA), Zac Schultz (Parkland, FL), Jason Strollo (Short Hills, NJ), Jeffrey Taylor (Los Altos, CA) and Walker Woolf (Charlotte, NC).
Huntingdon enters Saturday's double-dip with an overall record of 5-5 and is coming off back-to-back wins over Maryville and LaGrange. The Hawks are batting at a .302 clip as a team while the pitching staff has chalked up 78 strikeouts on the year to go along with a 5.73 earned run average.