The Emory University baseball team opened its 2012 with a pair of victories in Mount Berry, GA on Friday, winning a 7-4 game over Berry College in the early contest, and following with a 7-5 victory over 23^rd-ranked Birmingham-Southern College in the night cap.

Freshman Connor Dillman earned the win over Berry in relief of senior Paul Schwendel, who delivered seven strong innings on the mound for Emory in the  early game during the day.

Leading 4-3 heading into the eighth, Dillman allowed the tying run to score, but the Eagles took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the ninth.  After freshman Brett Lake was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off, sophomore Brandon Hannon singled on a bunt, and forced an error on the throw, advancing to third and allowing Lake to score the eventual game-winning run.

The Eagles added an insurance run when sophomore catcher Jared Welch drove Hannon in with his second hit of the game.  Welch later scored on a groundout from senior Jay Page to give the Eagles a three run cushion.

Junior Mike Bitanga recorded the final two outs in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season, and secure the victory for the Eagles.

Emory jumped out to a quick lead in the contest, rallying with two outs and the bases empty in the first inning to score two runs.  After Welch walked, senior Kevin O'Connor and Page each singled, driving in Welch.  Junior Daniel Iturrey followed with a base hit to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.

Berry would answer right back in the bottom of the frame, as Thomas Johnson hit a two-out, two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2.

Schwendel would settle down for Emory, allowing just four more hits and one run over the next six innings.  Meanwhile, sophomore Ryan Toscano broke the tie win an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning, driving in Page.  Once again, the Vikings responded quickly with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3, but Emory answered again with an unearned run in the top of the seventh when Welch scored on an error by pitcher Trent Hillis.

Schwendel would finish the game with three runs allowed on six hits and three walks over seven innings, striking out three batters. 

Dillman entered the contest in the eighth, allowing the game-tying run on a walk and back-to-back singles, but escaped when Welch threw Cason Dremmann out trying to steal third base with two outs, allowing the Eagles to take the lead in the top of the ninth.

Welch finished the game two-for-three with a double, three runs scored, three stolen bases, two walks and an RBI.  Iturrey added a three-for-five performance, while junior Mark Lindemann, making his first career start, was two-for-four with a double.

In the upset victory over Birmingham Southern, senior southpaw Connor McGuiness allowed just one walked over an inning and a third in relief of sophomore starter Ben Hinojosa, to earn the victory.

After falling behind 3-0 in the contest in the top of the first, the Eagles pulled to within a run on a two-run home run for O'Connor, his first of the season.  Emory would take the lead in the third, scoring runs on a sacrifice fly from Page and an RBI groundout from Iturrey.  The Eagles extended the lead to 5-3 an inning later, when Hannon drove in Lindemann with a two-out double.

The Panthers would battle back, tying the game with two runs in the fifth, despite not registering a hit in the inning.  However, Emory would take the lead for good in the seventh, as Hannon and Welch both scored on wild pitches. 

Bitanga would enter the game in the top of the eighth, allowing two hits and striking out three to earn his second save of the day.

Hannon finished the second game three-for-five with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.  Welch added a two-for-four performance with a double and a stolen base, while O'Connor ended the game one-for-one with the home run and three walks.

Emory, now 2-0 on the season, dropped Berry to 2-2 on the campaign with the loss, while the Panthers fell to 0-1 on the campaign.

The Eagles will wrap up their opening weekend on Saturday, facing Birmingham Southern at Mount Berry at 4:00 PM.