College Baseball Final: Guilford 23, Emory & Henry 3

EMORY, Va. – Guilford College posted eight first-inning runs and never looked back as the Quakers claimed a Tuesday afternoon Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory over Emory & Henry College, 23-3.

The Quakers (5-12, 2-6 ODAC) stormed out to a 10-1 lead after three innings before extending their lead by four one inning later. The Wasps (2-11, 0-4 ODAC) mustered two runs in the seventh frame, but Guilford dropped the hammer one half inning later, scoring nine runs and falling three spots short from batting around the entire lineup twice in the inning. The Quakers left 15 runners on base while the Wasps stranded eight runners. Both teams also committed five errors a piece.

Herc Ingels led Guilford’s bats, hitting 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBI, two of which came off the home run in the first inning on Ingels’ second at-bat of the frame. Josh Shepherd’s five RBI led the Quakers, batting 3-for-5 with a triple that drove in the game’s first run in the first inning. Lane Daniels and Nick Blackwood (Greensboro, N.C./Wesleyan Christian Academy) each drove in three RBI a piece while Grayson Tuttle hit the Quakers’ second home run of the afternoon, a blast to left center field in the top of the fourth inning to ignite the Quakers’ four-run rally.

Bransen Christopher and Brandon Lineberry were the two lone Wasps with multi-hit efforts. Christopher hit 2-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI while Lineberry finished 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI. The remaining Wasps combined to hit 3-for-27 as a team.

Darin Salter (3-0) claimed the win for the Quakers giving up one un-earned run on four hits while striking out one and walking three in five innings. Avery Rogers pitched a scoreless sixth inning with Lou Trosch pitching the seventh, giving up two runs on three hits. Drew Martin and Justin Morrison threw an inning a piece respectively in the final two innings with no damage either inning.

Chase Kirk (0-1) took the loss for Emory & Henry in a start that lasted two-thirds of an inning. 16 of the 23 runs given up by Emory & Henry pitching were earned as the Wasps allowed 36 total base runners.

The Quakers return to ODAC play Saturday, hosting Washington and Lee University for a noon doubleheader Saturday afternoon at McBane Field.