The Emory University baseball team dropped the opening game of its weekend series with Piedmont University, falling by a count of 10-6 at Loudermilk Field in Demorest, Georgia.
In the first game in nine days for, the Emory offense took some time to get going as the Lions held EU off the scoreboard for seven innings. Senior Josh Zuckerman went seven strong innings for the Eagles in the no decision as he allowed the only damage against him in a three-run fourth inning that including a two-run blast off the stick of Jack Ryan.
Trailing 3-0 entering the eighth inning, the Eagles awoke with three coming around to score to even the game. Junior Corey Goldstick had the big hit with a two-run double to score senior Zach Wasserlauf and freshman Dalton Needle. With two outs later in the inning, junior Jake Lawson smacked a ball to the left center gap for a ground-rule double to bring home Goldstick with the game-tying run.
Despite grabbing momentum the inning prior, Piedmont was quick to respond as the Lions took advantage of three walks and three hit by pitches again the Emory bullpen to score seven times to build a 10-3 lead.
Emory did not go quietly though in the ninth inning as three of the first four batters for the Eagles worked walks prior to Goldstick driving in his third run with a bases loaded HBP. Graduate student Mark Serdinak and freshman Connor Tam added RBIs in the frame but Harris Bryan was able to strike out Jake Lawson for the final out to end the Emory threat.
The two teams will continue the weekend series down in Atlanta on Saturday starting at 2:00 PM from Chappell Park.
