From Emory University Athletics
The Emory University Eagles won their fifth-consecutive game on Wednesday night, making the trip across town to defeat the Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels 9-4.
Emory sophomore Jackson Weeg went six and two-thirds innings to improve to 8-1 on the season, tying him for the Division III lead in wins this season. He scattered eight hits and walk, while allowing just two earned run and three total during the outing, while matching his career high with 10 strikeouts for the second-straight start.
Oglethorpe threatened in the bottom of the first inning, putting runners on first and third with one out, but Weeg was able to pick off the trailing runner, and junior shortstop Jack Karras made a sliding catch and throw from the hole at short to rob Austin Ferlita of a run scoring hit.
Karras would come through at the plate in the top of the second inning, singling to right center with two outs to score sophomore Wilson Morgan, and put Emory on top 1-0. The Eagle added on two more in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from junior first baseman Ben Vizvary and a double from sophomore third baseman Philip Maldari. Maldari would later increase the Eagles' lead to 4-0, when he scored from third on a throw down to second base on a Morgan steal.
Emory pushed its advanced to 6-0 in the fourth on a two RBI double from Vizvary, before Oglethorpe got on the board in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run from Adrian Celata. However, the Eagles got a run back in the top of the fifth on a Karras sacrifice fly.
Weeg got into trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs, but proceeded to strike out the next three batters to prevent a run from scoring, preserving a 7-2 advantage. The Stormy Petrels cut the lead with an unearned run in the seventh, but the Eagles responded with a pair in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from sophomore designated hitter Brian Hernandez, and an error that plated junior second baseman Dylan Eisner, pushing the lead to 9-3.
Oglethorpe added an unearned run off reliever Matt Randolph in the bottom of the ninth, but the freshman was able to close out the contest to secure the Emory win.
Emory runners stole 11 bases in the game without being caught, tied for the fourth-most steals in school history, and the most stolen by the team in a game since March 18, 2008. Eisner and Morgan each stole three bases in the game.
Morgan finished the game three-for-five with a double, while Eisner was two-for-six with three runs scored. Vizvary added a three RBI day, while Karras drove in a pair.
Emory has now won eight of its last nine games to improve to 21-10 overall this season. The Petrels dropped to 18-11, with starter Joe Marco taking the loss to fall to 0-3 on the campaign.