The Emory University baseball team was dealt an opening day setback Tuesday afternoon as the Eagles fell 13-6 to Huntingdon College at Chappell Park in Atlanta.
Juniors Jake Lawson and Aidan Conley combined for five of the team's six RBIs but five defensive errors contributed to 13 unanswered runs for the Hawks as Emory fell in the first game of the 2026 campaign.
The Eagles' offensive was humming as play got underway on Tuesday as Emory plated six runs across the first two frames including a five spot in the second to lead 6-0 through two. Junior Zach Hanson drove in the game's first run in the home half of the first after Lawson began the hitting with a leadoff triple. In the second frame, Lawson scored a pair with a double to right before Conley cleared the bases with a triple to deep right center as the Eagles batted around.
Junior JT Rattigan and freshman William King III combined to retire the first 10 Hawks that came to the plate but four costly errors in the fourth inning led to seven unearned runs as Huntingdon reclaimed the lead at 7-6.
HC's MD Johnson kept the Eagles in check over his five innings of work prior to the Eagles threatening in the eighth as EU loaded the bases down by five at 11-6. However, Landon Hawkins sent down Hanson on strikes to end the threat. Huntingdon added two more runs in the top of the ninth but Emory was able to see two more base runners reach in the bottom half but could not extend the rally to fall to 0-1 with the seven-run margin.
The Eagles will be back at Chappell Park Friday afternoon as Emory begins a weekend three-game series against the Berry Vikings. Game one of the series is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM.
