Oglethorpe Falls to Crosstown Rival Emory

There were plenty of scoring highlights on the diamond but in the end, Emory University had the largest surge and its bullpen shut the door for any additional runs as it defeated host-club 13-9 Tuesday night.

After lagging behind (4-0) early, Oglethorpe chipped away at the lead in the third inning when the team scored two runs without the benefit of a single hit using two hit batters and three walks.

The Eagles produced another run in the fourth off the Petrel’s second pitcher, senior right-hander Spencer Kennedy, but Oglethorpe responded after senior Brendan Pilger belted his eighth home run of the season to right field.

Pilger’s shot was the 18th of his career, which ties a school record for home runs. He also ties the mark for the most in a single season.

“He had been pressing a little,” Oglethorpe head coach Dan Giordano said. “All he gets is curves and changeups. He hasn’t seen a fastball in weeks. He got one and he sent. He was excited and you could see his next couple of at bats all he saw were breaking balls.”

The Petrels kept the momentum alive scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth. This all came after allowing Emory to score four in the top half of the inning. The second big inning by Oglethorpe chased Emory's starting pitcher Paul Schwendel from the game.

Schwendel, a junior, ended the day with just over four innings pitched with nine runs (eight earned) and four strikeouts.

Oglethorpe, however, couldn’t keep the momentum in their favor as Emory plated two more in the sixth.

One of Emory’s top closers, Mike McMahon, came in relief of Paul Schwendel and quieted Oglethorpe’s bats. The freshman reliever went the distance, allowing only two hits, no runs and fanned three to earn the win.

“We have a closer by committee and he’s one of them,” Twardoski said. “He pitched fantastic for us tonight.”

Oglethorpe’s Jonathan Joseph’s two earned runs in his lone inning, the tie-breaking sixth, earned him the loss.

Oglethorpe looks to string some wins together as its closes out the season on the road. After Tuesday's loss, the team dropped to 16-15 on the year, while Emory improved its record of 24-12. The Petrels play at Piedmont Wednesday and at conference rival Birmingham Southern for a three-game weekend series, April 16-17.

“They’re playing hard, especially after losing two close games this past weekend,” Giordano said. “We’re heading this weekend for a big conference series. We know we have to win one or two games to get into the conference tournament.”