The Emory University baseball team began its University Athletic Association slate with a doubleheader sweep over New York University Friday afternoon at Chappell Park in Atlanta.
The Eagles outlasted the Violets in both games of the twinbill, taking the opening games of the series by 12-9 and 10-9 margins as the teams spent over eight hours at the ballpark.
With the sweep, the Eagles have won four straight and 12 of their last 14 to move to 16-6 on the season and 2-0 inside conference play. For NYU, they see their four-game win streak halted to drop to 12-7 on the season.
Game 1: Emory 12, NYU 9
Seven different Eagles recorded two hits with seniors Brok Liu, Matthew Sicoli and Jack Halloran combining for seven RBI as Emory claimed the series opener. Junior Josh Zuckerman tossed 123 pitches in a no decision, striking out six spanning 5.2 innings, with junior Paul Fine and senior Bennett Speicher working the final innings in relief.
After the teams combined for just one run across the first three innings, both teams combined for 20 runs over the final six innings in the 3-hour, 40-minute marathon that was game one.
Trailing by three following a four-run frame by the Violets, Halloran slashed the deficit to 4-2 with his first RBI of the day in the bottom half of the fourth. Sophomore Aidan Conley picked up a delayed steal of home for Emory's third run in the fifth and was followed by a run-scoring single by senior Blake Dincman to even the score at 4-4.
The sixth inning saw more back-and-forth with the Violets regaining the lead prior to a pinch-hit RBI single by sophomore Mitchell Smallwood in the home half of the sixth. Sicoli later added a two-run single to put Emory back ahead at 7-5.
The lead was short-lived as NYU struck for two in the seventh but once again Emory had an immediate answer as Liu had a go-ahead RBI double to score the first of two for the Eagles at their turn at the plate.
NYU tacked on one in the eighth but a solo blast from Halloran followed by a two-RBI single from Liu gave enough run support for Speicher to close the door on his sixth save of the season.
Game 2: Emory 10, NYU 9
After scoring in each of its final five innings in game one, the Emory offense continued to be scorching hot at the plate in game two on Friday as the Eagles opened the game with a five-spot in the bottom of the first.
Dincman along with juniors Zach Wasserlauf and Nick Sullo combined to bring in all five runs with singles in the first stanza.
The Violets responded through with a crooked frame of their own as they tagged starter Ryan Reynolds for six runs in the third to reclaim a 6-5 advantage.
Reynolds settled down in a big way with three scoreless innings following the third and worked into the seventh inning, allowing the Eagles to record an 8-6 lead with solo runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
Liu had another big hit with a game-tying single in the third before sac flies by Sullo and Dincman put the Eagles in front by two.
A three-run inning by the Violets saw NYU move ahead in the seventh but Emory seized the lead once again with a pair of RBI fielder's choices off the bats of Conley and Halloran in the home half of the seventh.
With a 10-9 lead, relievers Ryan Kelly and Nick Stellabotte worked around three base runners combined in scoreless eighth and ninth frames to slam the door on the Emory's second win of the series.
With rain in the forecast on Sunday, the Eagles and Violets will conclude their weekend series with another doubleheader at Chappell Park starting at 12:00 PM on Saturday. Prior to first pitch, the Eagles will recognize and honor former Head Coach Mike Twardoski with a special pre-game ceremony.
