From Emory University Athletics
The fourth-ranked Emory University baseball team swept a Saturday doubleheader against Covenant College to take the three-game series from the Scots. The Eagles improved 17-6 on the season while Covenant falls to 11-13.
Game 1: Emory 7, Covenant 4
Senior Ben Vizvary went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in a pair of runs while junior Brian Hernandez had two hits in five at bats and also drove in two runs to help the Eagles to a three-run victory in the first game of the twinbill.
Junior Hans Hansen went six innings on the mound in his sixth start of the season. Hansen remained perfect in 2016, moving 5-0 after allowing three runs (1 ER) with two strikeouts. Junior Luke Emmett earned his first save with the Eagles, going the final three innings in the contest. He gave up one run on two hits and had two strikeouts.
After the Scots took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Emory's Chris Young responded with a RBI single to right center to bring home senior Chris Slivka. In the bottom of the third, the Eagles added three runs to stake claim to a 4-1 edge. Junior Philip Maldari doubled to left center which brought home sophomore Nick Chambers. After a Slivka was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Vizvary pushed one through the right side to bring home Maldari and junior Wilson Morgan.
Covenant cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth but the Blue and Gold again scored three more times in the sixth to break open the game with the big hit coming from Hernandez with his two-run double to the left field wall to score senior Dylan Eisner and Chambers.
After he gave up a run in the seventh, Emmett sent down the final seven batters he faced to preserve the win.
Game 2: Emory 3, Covenant 2 (7 innings)
Freshman Jackson Grayson's first career hit proved to be difference in the night cap as the Eagles knocked off the Scots 3-2. With the bases loaded and one out in the second and trailing 1-0, Grayson came to the plate with the bases loaded. The Los Angeles, CA native laced a shot into the right centerfield gap to bring home Slivka and Vizvary.
Slivka added another run for Emory in the third inning to make it 3-1 with a double to left center to bring home Maldari from second.
Senior Paul Merolla worked 4.1 innings to earn his third victory of the season, finishing with a line of two runs (1 ER) on three hits. He struck out six and walked five. Junior Kyle Monk bounced back after taking the loss in Friday's game with 2.2 hitless innings to earn his eighth save of the year. He punched out four and did not issue a free pass.