Down a run late, Emory University had the game-tying run at third base in each of the eighth and ninth innings, but could not plate the equalizer in a 7-6 loss at cross town opponent Oglethorpe University on Wednesday night.

The loss put an end to a three-game winning streak for the Eagles, who fell to 9-5 on the campaign, while Oglethorpe raised its record to 6-5.

The Eagles took a second inning lead when junior Jordan Selbach drove in senior Jared Welch from second base with a two-out single up the middle.  Oglethorpe struck back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second off starter Paul Merolla, and loaded the bases with one out, but senior Robert Gross entered the game in relief and got a strikeout and a groundout to end the frame without any further damage.

The Eagles bounced right back with a pair of runs in the top of the third, taking advantage of three errors by the Stormy Petrels.  In the fifth, junior Brett Lake extended the Eagles lead further with a leadoff home run over the left field wall, his second of the season, giving Emory a 4-2 advantage.

The back-and-forth nature of the game continued into the bottom of the fifth, when Oglethorpe took advantage of a two-out bases loaded hit by pitch, and then back-to-back two RBI singles from Joey McAlpin and Frank Sarno to regain the lead, 7-4.

The score remained the same until the top of the eighth, when the Eagles loaded the bases with two outs and scored runs on a walk to Lake, and when senior Daniel Iturrey was hit by a pitch.  However, Oglethorpe reliever Patrick Kulick was able to get out of the jam, keeping the Stormy Petrels on top 7-6.

Welch led off the ninth inning for Emory with a walk, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Philip Maldari, and to third on a stolen base.  Kulick would get a strikeout through for the second out of the frame, and after walking a batter, would induce a fly out to right to end the game, leaving the tying run at third.

Reliever Sam Traxler earned the win for the Stormy Petrels to improve to 2-0, while Kulick claimed his third save of the season.  Senior Ben Hinojosa took the loss for Emory, dropping to 1-1.

Freshman Jackson Weeg pitched well in the loss for the Eagles, throwing the final three and a third innings without allowing a run, while holding Oglethorpe to two hits and a walk, and striking out four.  The southpaw is yet to allow an earned run through 14 innings this season.

At the plate, Lake ran his hitting streak to 15 games, going three-for-four with two runs scored and two RBIs, including the home run.  He leads all Eagles this season with a .537 batting average and 22 runs batted in this season.

Selbach (two-for-four) and senior shortstop Jared Kahn (two-for-six) added multiple hit performances at the plate as well for Emory.

Wednesday's game was the Eagles' final contest before the 2014 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships in Sanford, Florida.  Emory will open conference play on Sunday, March 9^th at 11:00 AM against Washington University (Mo.).