Box Score Emory University scored an early run against Birmingham-Southern College on Wednesday night, but would be unable to bring another run across the plate the rest of the game, as the 26th-ranked Eagles eventually fell to the fourth-ranked Panthers 4-1 in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the game, when junior David Coble led the contest off with a base hit, stole second and then scored on an RBI double from senior Brett Lake. However, the Panthers would even the score in the bottom of the second, scoring a run on a two-out single from Brandon Marino, and then take the lead in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run from Zach Wingate.
Emory threatened later in the contest, after sophomore Philip Maldari doubled to start the seventh (his eighth of the last five games), followed by a walk to senior Jordan Selbach and a sacrifice bunt from junior Dylan Eisner to move the runners into scoring position. However, Panthers pitcher Kyle Royalty struck out back-to-back pinch hitters to end the threat.
Birmingham-Southern added on an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh against Emory reliever Matt Randolph, the only blemish on the day for the freshman who allowed just three hits in four and a third innings of relief work.
Sophomore Luke Emmett took the loss for the Eagles, falling to 1-1 on the year. Mac Crawford picked up the win for the Panthers.
Emory dropped to 16-10 with the loss, while Birmingham-Southern raised its ledger to 24-3-1.
The Eagles will open a three-game weekend series with Huntingdon College on Friday night, when the Eagles head to Montgomery, Alabama for a 6:00 pm CT contest with the Hawks.
