A four-run seventh inning and solid outings by senior pitchers Park Smith (Warren, N.J./The Pingry School) and Aidan Lucas (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) helped the Denison baseball team snap a two-game skid as they picked up a 7-5 victory over Emory University on Sunday from Chappell Park in Atlanta, Ga.
On March 5, Denison and Emory were involved in a slugfest that saw the two squads combine for 28 runs on 25 hits as the Eagles picked up an 18-10 win. In Sunday's rematch, the totals were significantly lower and the outcome was reversed as the Big Red picked up the victory.
After a scoreless first, DU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top half of the second. Junior Peter Krieger (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) and senior Alex Horn (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) were both hit by a pitch to open the frame. Following a four-pitch walk to Tim Duxbury (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier), junior Danny Pritz (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. The junior center fielder hit into a 463 double play but knocked in Krieger from third to give Denison the lead.
In the third frame, the Big Red added to their lead on a one-out double by junior Kevin Teague (Fairfax Station, Va./St. Stephens and St. Agnes). The junior's doubled down the left line scored sophomore outfielder Andrew Mahle (Belle Mead, N.J./Montgomery) from second base.
The Eagles plated two in the their half of the third to tie the game at 2-2. Emory's two tallies came on a single through the right side by Andrew Cohn.
Junior Matt Forgatch (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) helped the Big Red retake the lead in the fifth. After logging a one-out double to left field, the junior stole third and eventually crossed the dish on a wild pitch by Paul Schwendel to put DU ahead 3-2.
Mahle led the seventh off with a single and reached second on a pass ball. Mahle eventually came around to scored on a base hit to center field by Forgatch. With runners on first and second, Duxbury started a two-out rally with an RBI single to left center that scored Forgatch from second. Pritz kept things going with a base hit up the middle that drove in Teague. After first-year Andrew Touhy (Wilmette, Ill./Loyola Academy) drew a walk to load the bags, Emory went to the bullpen and brought in Brian Cournoyer. Cournoyer gave up a single to freshman Danny Kraus (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) which scored Duxbury to cap off the four-run frame and gave Denison a 7-2 advantage.
Trailing 7-4 in the ninth with two outs and the bases full, Cohn drew a base-on-balls to plate Emory's third tally of the inning and move the game-tying run into scoring position. However, Lucas, who entered in the eighth inning, struck Patrick Riebsame out looking to end the Eagle rally and close out the win for the Big Red.
Smith picked up his second win of the season after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in seven innings of work. The senior southpaw fanned seven batters, issued two free passes and retired the side in three of his final four innings on the hill. Lucas gave up three runs on two hits and three strikeouts in the final two frames.
Mahle, Forgatch and Duxbury led the Big Red offense with two hits apiece. Forgatch recorded a double, an RBI and two runs, while Mahle scored twice and Duxbury scored and drove in a run.
Denison improves to 8-5 on the year, while the Emory falls to 10-9 overall. DU returns to action on Tuesday (March 23) when they host third-ranked Heidelberg University (12-1). First pitch from Granville is slated for 4 p.m.
