Eagles Bounce Back with 14-6 Win over Piedmont

The Emory University baseball team bounced back from a mid-week loss in dominant fashion, defeating Piedmont College 14-6 at Chappell Park, behind a four RBI day from Daniel Iturrey and a three RBI game from Kevin O'Connor.

Iturrey finished the game three-for-three with four RBIs, including a triple, a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base.  O'Connor added a two-for-three performance with a triple and three RBIs, while Andrew Cohn and Jared Welch each had two-RBI days as well.

Emory jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on O'Connor's first RBI of the game, a two-out single that drove in Brandon Hannon. 

The Lions answered back in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs off starter Paul Schwendel in the inning, the senior's lone bump in the road during his six inning effort.

Trailing 4-1, Emory would immediately respond with a six-run bottom of the third, tying the game on O'Connor's two-run triple, and added on two more with Iturrey's triple later in the inning.  Emory capped off its scoring with a seven-run fifth inning, taking a 14-4 lead after five.

Piedmont would score a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, but the Lions would not get any closer to the Eagles.

Schwendel allowed four runs on seven hits during his six innings of work, walking five batters and striking out five.  He is now a team-best 5-1 this season with a 5.05 ERA.  Freshmen Jason Edwards and Alexander Castaneda each pitched an inning in relief, allowing a run apiece, while junior Ryan Orlovsky closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.  Piedmont starter Kevin Caldwell took the loss for the Lions, falling to 4-2 on the year.

Senior Patrick Riebsame extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a one-for-two day at the plate, the season-long streak by an Eagle.  Cohn now has an 11-game hitting streak, while Iturrey has hit safely in his last seven contests.

Emory raised its record to 16-9, while the Lions dropped to 15-10 with the loss.  Emory and Piedmont will play again tomorrow, with the game now starting at 3:00 PM, due to a threat of rain on Saturday.