Emory University's Chris Monaco earned his second victory in as many starts this season, and Jonathan Reilly and Brandon Hannon each contributed three-hit games, as the Eagles bested York (Pa.) College 8-4 in their opening game of the Rawlings Southern Classic.

Monaco pitched six innings, the second-longest start of his career, allowing four runs on five hits and just one walk.  He improved to 2-0 on the season with a 4.91 earned run average.  Opponents have just nine hits in 11 innings off the senior this season, good for a .214 opponents batting average.  Monaco also retired the leadoff batter in each inning, the second-straight start he has accomplished the feat.

Emory fell behind 2-0 after one inning, as York’s C.T. Stanley hit a two-out two run double.  Emory would cut the lead in half in the third inning on a Gabe Shivers groundout that would score Daniel Iturrey, but would leave the bases loaded to end the frame.

The Eagles took the lead in the fourth, scoring three two-out runs in the inning off consecutive-RBI hits from freshman catcher Jared Welch, Hannon and Shivers.  Emory would add on two more in the fifth inning on a Reilly RBI single, followed by an RBI triple from Iturrey, again with two outs.

After the Spartans scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth to pull back within two, 6-4, the Eagles got both runs back in the seventh on a Reilly RBI double and a bases loaded walk to Welch.  Emory freshman Matt McMahon pitched the final three innings, facing the minimum and allowing just two hits, en route to his first collegiate save.

Reilly finished the game three-for-five with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base, while Hannon went three-for-four with a double, a RBI and a stolen base.  Welch added a two-RBI day with a pair of stolen bases as well.

Senior third baseman Andrew Cohn picked up a double in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to nine games, dating back to last season.

With the win, Emory improved to 2-1 on the campaign, while York dropped to 1-1, after defeating Denison University 13-4 earlier in the day at the Rawlings Southern Classic.

Emory will return to action tomorrow, facing Denison University at 10:30 AM during the second day of the Rawlings Southern Classic at Chappell Park.