Emory University scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to go ahead for good in a see-saw affair with the Brandeis University Judges on Wednesday afternoon, as the Eagles claimed their second University Athletic Association (UAA) victory with an 8-6 win in Sanford, Florida.

The win keeps the Eagles' hopes for a third-straight UAA Championship alive, as the squad improved to 2-3 at the conference championships, after starting out 0-3.  The Eagles are now 8-8 overall this season, while the Judges dropped to 4-7, and to 2-3 in UAA games as well.

Emory jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning with back-to-back doubles from junior Jared Kahn and freshman Chris Slivka, and an RBI fielder's choice from Jordan Selbach, who hustled down the first base line to beat out a potential double play at first, allowing the second run to score.

The score remained 2-0 through the first four innings, as sophomore starter Dylan Finer scattered six hits through his first four innings of work, holding Brandeis scoreless during the stretch.  However, Finer got into trouble in the fifth, allowing three unearned runs to score, before junior Matt McMahon entered the game to get the final out of the inning and avoid further damage.

Emory answered right back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on a wild pitch and a Jared Welch sacrifice fly to regain a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Brandeis scored twice off McMahon to regain a one-run lead, but it would prove to be short-lived for the second time.  Emory scored four runs in the bottom of the frame, including the game-tying run on a throwing error by the catcher after a Brandon Hannon bunt single, and the go-ahead run on a Welch ground out.  Hannon later scored a run of his own on a wild pitch, and Slivka drove his second run of the game in with a base hit to cap off the scoring and give Emory an 8-5 advantage.

McMahon would pitch into the ninth for Emory, and allow one run in the final frame, but sophomore Graham Bloomsmith recorded the final two outs, earning his second save of the season.

McMahon earned the win in relief, bouncing back from a loss earlier in the tournament to improve to 1-2 on the year.  The loss was credited to Brandeis reliever Jesse Link, who fell to 0-1 for the campaign.

Senior second baseman Mark Lindemann added a season-best three hits for the Eagles, going three-for-four during the day, while sophomore first baseman Jordan Selbach walked three times and scored two runs.  Sophomore centerfielder Wes Peacock went two-for-five with two runs scored, and extended his season-long hitting streak to 11 games.

Emory will be back in action in the early contest tomorrow, with a must-win game against Washington University (Mo.), which currently sits in a tie for first place in the conference with a 3-1 UAA record.  The Eagles and the Bears will face off at 11:00 AM at Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Florida.