Box Score Emory University freshman Connor Dillman did not allow an earned run over six innings in his first collegiate start, and the Eagles scored three runs on a two-out rally in the fifth inning to defeat Washington & Lee University 5-2 in their home-opening game on Tuesday afternoon.
In just his second collegiate appearance overall, Dillman struck out six batters and allowed just six hits and two walks. He gave up just one unearned run in the game, as the Generals scored after a passed ball in the third inning.
The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, scoring on three-straight hits, including an RBI single from sophomore third baseman Ryan Toscano.
After Washington and Lee tied the game on the unearned run in the third, the game remained knotted at a run apiece until the bottom of the fifth inning. Toscano got the rally started with a base hit, and sophomore catcher Josh Bokor advanced him with a sacrifice bunt. After a Mark Lindemann groundout advanced Toscano to third with two outs, freshman right fielder Brett Lake and sophomore center fielder Brandon Hannon picked up back-to-back RBI doubles, giving the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Sophomore first baseman Jared Welch followed with an RBI single, driving in Hannon and giving Emory a 4-1 advantage.
The Eagles added another two-out run in the sixth inning when Toscano and Bokor registered back-to-back singles with two gone in the frame. With runners on the corners, Bokor attempted a fake-steal of second base, drawing a throw and allowing Toscano to score on a delayed steal of home. Bokor successfully returned to first base on the play.
Freshman Dylan Finer made his collegiate debut on the mound in the seventh inning, allowing two hits in a scoreless frame, while senior Connor McGuiness allowed an unearned run on a walk and a hit, and helping himself out with a pickoff at first.
With the score at 5-2 in the ninth, junior Mike Bitanga pitched for the fourth time through five Emory games this season, and recorded his third save with a one-hit, scoreless effort in the ninth. The save was the 11th of Bitanga's career, moving him into a tie with Rich Babb (2004-07) and Roy Smetana (1994-97) for the second-most in the program's history, and just five saves shy of Keith Meizler's (2003-06) program record of 16.
Dillman improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory, while lowering his season ERA to 1.23. General's starter Ian Shaw allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings, dropping to 0-2 for the campaign.
Toscano finished the game three-for-four for the Eagles to raise his batting average to .316, and junior Daniel Iturrey's two-for-three day raised his average to a team-high .444.
Emory improved to 4-1 on the season with the win, raising its record to 16-6 all time in home-opening games. Washington and Lee dropped to 0-4 on the campaign with the loss.
The Eagles will look to keep the momentum going on Wednesday, as they will continue their nine-game home stand with a 2:00 PM game against Maryville College (Tenn.).
