Making his collegiate debut, Emory University freshman Tyler Sprague held Rhodes College scoreless through seven innings, guiding the Eagles to a 5-0 victory over the Lynx on Sunday afternoon, and an opening-weekend sweep in Memphis, Tennessee.

Emory improved to 2-0 on the season, marking the 10^th time in the program's 23-year history the team has won each of its first two games of the season, and the second-consecutive season Emory has started 2-0.  Rhodes dropped to 2-3 on the year with the loss.

Sprague earned the victory in the game to improve to 1-0 on the year.  The right-handed pitcher scattered seven hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings of work, striking out six batters in the process.

Emory's two-, three-, and four-hitters, juniors Brandon Hannon, Jared Welch and Daniel Iturrey, combined to go eight-for-15 from the plate on the day with three RBIs, four runs scored and three stolen bases.

Emory's offense threatened in the top of the first inning, after back-to-back singles from juniors Hannon and Welch put runners on the corners with one out.  However, freshman pitcher Adam Putnam was able to strike out the next two Emory batters to end the threat.  In the top of the second, Emory loaded the bases on three walks, but Putnam was able to escape the jam with another strikeout.

After the struggling to plate runners in their first two chances, Emory was able to break through for its first run of the game in the third, when Welch led the frame off with a base hit, stole second and scored on an RBI double from Iturrey, giving the squad a 1-0 lead.  In the fourth, the Eagles took advantage of a throwing error with Welch at the plate and two outs that scored a pair of runs, extending their lead to 3-0.

Meanwhile, Sprague cruised in his first collegiate game, limiting the scoring opportunities for the Lynx by allowing just one runner to get past second base during the outing.  He was aided by his defense as well, with Welch throwing out a pair of would-be base stealers at second, and Iturrey throwing out a runner at home plate from left field. 

The score remained 3-0 until the top of the seventh, when Iturrey led off with a double, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  The next batter, sophomore Wes Peacock, drove him in with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, extending the Eagles' lead to 4-0.  Peacock also drove in the Eagles' fifth and final run of the game with an RBI single in the top of the ninth.

In a non-save situation, Emory junior Matt McMahon closed out the game, pitching the final two scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one without allowing a hit to complete the combined shutout.  It was the first shutout by the Eagles' pitching staff since March 16^th of last season, when the Eagles clinched the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship with a 2-0 win over Washington University (Mo.).

Starting pitcher Adam Putnam took the loss for the Lynx, falling to 0-1 on the season.

The Eagles will return home for their first game of the season at Chappell Park, hosting Washington and Lee University at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 19^th.