Emory University sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the top of the eighth inning on Saturday afternoon, as the Eagles earned an 8-3 opening day win over Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Sophomore Wes Peacock and junior Josh Bokor each drove in two runs during the game, while sophomore starter Connor Dillman struck out nine batters over six and a third innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks.  Sophomore Graham Bloomsmith pitched the final two and two thirds innings in relief, earning his first collegiate victory.

After retiring the side in order in the first inning, Dillman got into trouble in the second, loading the bases with two outs on a hit batter and a pair of walks.  However, the reigning South Region Rookie of the Year was able to get out of the jam, striking out Stewart Martens for the third out, and his fifth strikeout through two innings.

The game would develop into a pitcher's duel through the first six innings between Dillman and Rhodes' starter Jackson Baker.  Emory would finally breakthrough for the first run of the game in the top of the seventh inning.  Sophomore Brett Lake led the inning off with a double, and Peacock followed with a perfectly executed bunt base hit past the pitcher's mound to put runners on the corners.  After senior Mark Lindemann was hit by a pitch to load the bases, junior Ryan Toscano followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Lake from third to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

However, Rhodes would answer right back against Dillman, taking advantage of a walk, an error, and back-to-back hits, all with one out, to even the game at 1-1.  Dillman would give way to reliever Graham Bloomsmith, who would get a ground out to short that scored a second run for the Lynx before striking out a batter to end the inning.

The Eagles' offense got back to work in the top of the eighth, wasting little time tying the game, as Baker gave way to the Rhodes bullpen at the start of the frame.  Junior Brandon Hannon singled to start the inning, advancing to second on a passed ball, and scoring on a Jared Welch base hit.  After a walk was issued to Daniel Iturrey, Lake followed with an RBI single, and Peacock delivered a two-RBI double down the left field line, giving the Eagles a 5-2 lead.  Two batters later, Bokor drove in two more with a one-out pinch hit single, and, after a double from junior Jared Kahn, Hannon capped off the Eagles' scoring with his second hit of the inning, scoring Bokor from third and giving the Eagles an 8-2 lead.

The Lynx scored a run off Bloomsmith in the bottom of the eighth to pull within five runs, but the sophomore reliever would keep Rhodes off the board in the ninth to close out the game and earn the win.  Reliever Stuart Voges took the loss for Rhodes, falling to 0-1 on the season.

Emory claimed a win in its season-opening game for the third-straight season, improving to 15-8 all-time in season openers.  Rhodes now stands at 2-2 overall this year.

Emory baseball will wrap up its season-opening weekend series against Rhodes on Sunday, facing the Lynx at 2:00 PM ET in Memphis, Tennessee.