Box Score Emory University sophomore Jared Welch broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning on Wednesday, as the Eagles cooled off red-hot Birmingham Southern College with a 2-1 win.
Welch's hit came after Emory freshman Brett Lake and sophomore Brandon Hannon each picked up infield singles with two outs in the 10th. After fouling off one pitch with a full count, Welch singled into centerfield, leaving no doubt that the speedy Lake, running with the pitch, would score from second.
The win for Emory is the team's sixth-straight, adding to the squad's season-long streak. Meanwhile, the loss put an end to a 13-game winning streak for the Panthers, who entered the game as one of the hottest teams in Division III.
The game was a pitchers dual throughout, with each team scoring an unearned run through the first nine. Birmingham-Southern took the lead in the fourth inning after Stephen Denton reached on an error to start the inning, advanced to second on a walk and to third on a fielder's choice, before scoring on a passed ball.
It would be the only blemish on starter Paul Schwendel's record for the day, who allowed just four hits and three walks, while striking out nine, before leaving the game with an out in the ninth.
The Eagles tied the game in the seventh. After senior Jay Page started the inning with a hit, he was pinch run for by freshman Jordan Selbach. Selbach then stole second, and advanced to third on an errant throw from the Panthers' catcher. The next batter, senior Kevin O'Connor drove in the game-tying run with a sacrifice fly.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the tenth, as Emory reliever Mike Bitanga entered the game in the ninth, escaping situations with runners in scoring position in both innings he worked, and improving to 4-0 on the season after Welch's walk-off hit.
The game marked the fourth time this season that the Eagles have walked off in a game. Hannon drew a walk-off walk against LaGrange earlier in the season, and Page hit a walk-off single against Denison University in early March.
With the win, Emory is now 17-7 on the season, including wins in 10 of their last 11, and 12 of the team's last 14 games. Birmingham-Southern dropped to 18-6 on the year with the loss.
The victory sets up a key weekend for the Eagles, who will play a three-game series against sixth-ranked Piedmont College, starting Friday at 7:00 PM in Demorest, Georgia.
