The Emory University baseball team wrapped up a 6-0 home stand on Wednesday, as the Eagles defeated LaGrange College 7-5 at Chappell Park.

The Eagles received a strong effort from starting pitcher Caleb Long, who scattered six hits and three walks over five innings pitched, allowing three runs, just two of which were earned. 

The Panthers got on the board first, scoring a pair in the first inning off Long.  However, the sophomore would settle down to retire the side in order in the second inning. 

In the bottom of the second, the Eagles took the lead, scoring four runs on four hits.  With one out in the inning, junior Jay Page started the Emory rally with a base hit, followed by a walk to senior Patrick Riebsame and a single up the middle for freshman Brandon Hannon that loaded the bases.  On the next play, senior Gabe Shivers drove in a pair of runs with a single, while senior Ryan Jones capped off the inning with a two-run double immediately after.

After LaGrange cut the lead to 4-3 with a run in the top of the third, Riebsame struck with the first home run by an Eagle this season, hitting the ball over the wall in left centerfield with two outs to extend Emory’s lead back to two.  Emory added on another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Shivers opened the inning with a triple, followed by an infield single for Jones, and a two-RBI double for Kevin O’Connor.

The score would remain 7-3 until the top of the ninth inning, in part due to a pair of pick offs at first base by freshman catcher Jared Welch.  Freshman Jason Edwards entered the game in the sixth for Emory, and pitched a pair of hitless innings, walking two and striking out two.  Sophomore Mike Bitanga pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Emory, and despite allowing two runs in the ninth, pitched around the jam to end the contest.

Long earned the victory for Emory, improving to 1-0 on the season.  LaGrange starter Trevor Tullock took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.

Shivers finished the game three-for-five with two runs scored and two RBIs, raising his batting average to .343 for the season.  Jones added a three-for-five performance as well for Emory, and his nine RBIs this season lead all Eagles.  Riebsame and Page each had a pair of hits during the game.

With the victory, Emory improved to 7-1 on the season, and remained perfect at Chappell Park this season with a 7-0 overall record at home.  LaGrange dropped to 4-2 on the campaign with the loss.

Emory will look to keep its hot streak going this weekend, as the Eagles will travel to Memphis, TN for the Rhodes College Classic, facing Rhodes at 3:00 PM EST on Friday, Maryville College (Tenn.) at 1:00 PM EST on Saturday, and 12^th-ranked Marietta College at 11:30 AM EST on Sunday.