The Emory University baseball team made its long-awaited return to competition Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL.

The Eagles had to sweat out a win in the opener, holding on to defeat the Hawks 13-12 before falling short in the night cap by a score of 6-5.

Game 1 – Emory 13, Huntingdon 12

A five-run seventh inning helped propel the Eagles out to an 11-6 lead. Newcomer Robby Wacker put Emory in front with a two-run double to the left field corner which plated Ryan Adelman and Zeke Diamond. The hit was part of a big first game for Wacker, who finished 3-for-5 and a triple short of the cycle while driving in four runs.

Four additional Eagles collected two RBI in the contest including the 1-2-3 part of order in Michael Edelman, Drew Bartholow and Jack Rubenstein. Edelman and Bartholow each had three hits as the table setters with Rubenstein belting a two-run home run to lead off the scoring in the first. Fellow newcomer Steven Hunt picked up two RBI as well in a 2-for-4 effort.

Huntingdon made the game interesting late, scoring five times in the bottom of the ninth including a grand slam off David Shore, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Shore was able to retire the next batter after home run to secure the win.

Joey Bock was superb in a relief appearance, allowing one unearned run in 4.1 innings of work to collect his first win of the season. Classmate Jack Brodsky drew the start, striking out two across 3.2 while allowing five earned runs on seven hits.

Game 2 – Huntingdon 6, Emory 5

Compared to game one where the seventh inning was the highlight for the Eagles, the seventh frame in game two proved to be the foil as Huntingdon pushed across three unearned runs to erase a 4-3 deficit en route to the one-run victory.

Two runs were able to score on a costly throwing error on a bunt attempt before a run-scoring double gave the Hawks a 6-4 advantage.

Just as the home team did in the first game, Emory made it interesting in the ninth, loading the bases and bringing go ahead runs to the plate. Back-to-back one-out doubles by Edelman and Wacker set the scene before Rubenstein walked to load the bases. Caleb Shulman drove in a run with a sac fly however that was closest the Eagles would come as Adelman grounded to first for the final out of the contest.

Shulman and Adelman drove in four of the team's five runs while Jack Moore was solid in his season debut before the seventh inning spoiled his outing. Moore gave up six runs, only two earned, in 6.1 innings, striking out five and walking one.

The Eagles are scheduled to return to the field next weekend with a three-game set at LaGrange College.