The Emory University baseball team put up three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, helping the squad to a 9-7 win over Denison University on Sunday afternoon at Chappell Park.

Emory, now 7-5 on the season, received a strong start from Connor Dillman, who improved to 3-1 on the year with the victory.  The freshman allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out two batters over six and a third innings. 

Emory took a lead in the first inning, scoring a run after sophomore catcher Jared Welch singled and senior Kevin O'Connor walked with two outs, followed by a single junior designated hitter Daniel Iturrey to drive in Welch.

Denison responded in the top of the second, scoring runs on an RBI double for Evan Nicholson and a double play ground ball for Dave Holmes.

Emory evened the game in the bottom of the third, when sophomore centerfielder Brandon Hannon singled with one out, and Welch drove him in with a triple to straight away centerfield.

The Eagles broke the game open in the fifth inning off Denison starter Tim Duxbury with a three-run, two-out rally, including RBI singles from Iturrey, senior first baseman Jay Page, and sophomore third baseman Ryan Toscano, to give the team a 5-2 lead.  Emory added on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth off the Big Red bullpen, on bases loaded walks issued to O'Connor and Page, and a wild pitch that allowed Welch to score from third.

Denison made it a 8-3 game with a run in the seventh, but the Eagles added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on Toscano's second RBI single of the day.

The Big Red made it close in the ninth, scoring four unearned runs off Emory's Matt McMahon, but senior Paul Schwendel entered the game to get the final out with the tying runs on the base paths and earning his first save of the season.

Duxbury took the loss in his first start of the season for Denison, as the Big Red dropped to 1-3 on the year with the defeat.

The Eagles will wrap up their nine-game home stand on Tuesday, hosting Berry College at 2:00 PM.