From Emory University Athletics
Emory University closed out the 2014 University Athletic
Association (UAA) Championships on Sunday with a 4-1 win over
Brandeis University in Sanford, Florida to clinch a share of the
conference title, the 12th in the program's
history.
The win put the Eagles at 6-2 at the UAA Tournament, tying the team
for first place with Case Western Reserve University, which earned
a share of the conference championship on Saturday. It was
the third UAA Championship in the last four years for Emory.
Freshman starting pitcher Hans Hansen pitched into the
ninth inning for the first time during his career, earning the win
by scattering nine Brandeis hits and a walk over his eight innings
of work, allowing just one run and matching his career-high with
six strikeouts. Hansen improved to 4-1 on the season with the
win, and lowered his earned run average to 3.65.
Hansen held the Judges scoreless through the first three innings of
the game, before the Judges scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the
top of the fourth. However, Emory evened the contest in the
bottom of the frame, when freshman Philip Maldari walked,
stole second and scored on a throwing error.
Hansen would not allow another run in the game, retiring
nine-straight Brandeis hitters at one point. Emory would jump
out in front for good when junior Wes Peacock hit an RBI
double and later scoring a run of his own on another Brandeis
error. Emory added an insurance run in the seventh when
sophomore Chris Slivka drove in a run with a base hit,
pushing the lead to 4-1.
Brandeis threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning, getting
back-to-back hits off Hansen to bring the tying run to the
plate. Emory turned to reliever Robert Gross, who got a
fly out, a strike out and a ground out to end the game and secure
his first save of the campaign.
Emory hitters walked 10 times during the game, including three from
senior Daniel Iturrey. Peacock finished the day
two-for-five, while sophomore Jack Karras went
two-for-two with a sacrifice bunt, and Maldari scored two of the
team's four runs.
Junior Brett Lake finished the game 0-for-3 with a walk
and a hit-by-pitch, ending his hitting streak at 22 games.
The streak was the fourth-longest ever by an Emory player, trailing
only former Eagles Bryan Langbord (29 games in 2004), Frank Pfister
(25 games in 2007) and Andrew Cohn (23 games in 2008-09).
The win capped off a strong showing at UAA Championships for the
Eagles, who led all teams at the tournament with a 2.87 team
ERA. On the base paths, the Eagles stole a tournament-best 29
bases (no other team had more than eight), while limiting opponents
to just one stolen base on four attempts. Lake finished tied
for the tournament lead with 12 RBIs, while senior Brandon
Hannonled all players with seven stolen bases and was second with
12 runs scored.
Emory now stands at 15-7 overall for the season, while Brandeis
dropped to 6-8, including 2-6 at the UAA Championships.
Starting pitcher Elio Fernandez took the loss for the Judges,
dropping to 1-2 on the season.