The Emory University baseball team capitalized on a six-run sixth inning on Sunday, and held off a late rally by Huntingdon College, defeating the Hawks 8-7 at Chappell Park to salvage the last game of the three-game series.

Freshman Tyler Sprague delivered his third-straight strong start, and second of the week, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks, while striking out two batters.  Sophomore Wes Peacock contributed at the plate with a three-for-four day, scoring two runs and driving in two, while junior Jared Kahn went three-for-five with a double, two runs and a pair of stolen bases.

Emory jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the game with a run off a sacrifice fly from senior Mark Lindemann in the second inning.  However, Huntingdon scored two off Sprague in the fourth, including one on a solo home run from Joseph Odom, to take a 2-1 lead.

The Eagles tied the game with a two-out RBI single from Jared Welch in the fifth inning, but the Hawks regained the lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Tyler Blackwell.

The Hawks lead would be short-lived though, as Emory rallied for six runs in the sixth inning, loading the bases with nobody out, and scoring off a bases-loaded walk to Lindemann, an RBI single from Daniel Iturrey, a wild pitch, a two-RBI single from Peacock, and a sacrifice fly from Jordan Selbach, taking an 8-3 lead.

The next two innings would pass quietly, but Huntingdon would muster a comeback attempt in the ninth, scoring four runs, including two on Odom's second home run of the game.  However, with two outs and the game-tying run at second base, sophomore Graham Bloomsmith induced a groundout to first base to end the game, and pick up his first save of the season.

Sprague now stands at 3-0 for his freshman campaign, and leads all Emory starters with a 2.14 ERA.  Gavin Free took the loss in relief for Huntingdon, falling to 2-2 for the year.

Emory improved to 6-4 with the win, as the team assured itself a winning record heading into next weekend's University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships.  Huntingdon dropped to 8-5 on the year with the loss.

The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday, March 6^th at 7:00 PM ET against eighth-ranked Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama.