The Emory University Baseball team bounced back from a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Covenant College in the early game of a Saturday doubleheader to defeat the Scots 8-1 in the late game, and force a split of the two seven-inning games in Lookout Mountain, Georgia on Saturday afternoon.

Emory's late game victory came behind the strength of a strong start from sophomore Dylan Finer, who allowed just one run on four hits through five innings of work to earn the win, the first of his collegiate career.  Finer is now 1-0 this season with a 3.86 ERA.

Emory got off to a quick start in the contest, when sophomore Brandon Hannon reached on a one-out single, stole second, and scored on a Jared Welch RBI single.  The Eagles added three more in the third inning, including one on an RBI single from sophomore Jordan Selbach, bringing the team's advantage to 4-0. 

Covenant scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Emory answered right back in the top of the sixth, scoring four in the frame, including two on a base hit from Hannon, and a third when the Covenant centerfielder made an error on the play. 

Emory junior Matt McMahon worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth, inducing a double play.  He would also pick up another double-play in the seventh, securing the Emory victory.

In the early game, after trailing 3-0, Emory scored four runs in the top of the third inning, including three on a bases-clearing three RBI double for freshman second baseman Dylan Eisner that put the Eagles on top 4-3.  Eisner added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning as well, reaching on an error, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scoring on a steal of third and an error on a throw by the Covenant catcher.

Freshman starter Paul Merolla left the game after five innings, giving way to freshman Tyler Sprague, who pitched a scoreless sixth.  However, with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, Sprague surrendered a double and a walk-off three run home run off the bat of Perry Rigby, giving Covenant the victory.  Sprague fell to 3-3 on the season with the loss, while Scots' reliever Jonah Paul earned the win, improving to 1-0.

Eisner had two of the Eagles' five hits in the first game, going two-for-three with three RBIs, two stolen bases and a run scored.  Junior Jared Kahn hit safely in both games, and now has an 11-game hitting streak.

With the split, Emory now stands at 13-11 for the season, while Covenant's record moved to 18-5.

Emory will return home to host Birmingham-Southern College on Wednesday, April 3^rd at 3:00 PM.