Emory University junior Hans Hansen pitched seven shutout innings, allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out three batters, as the second-ranked Eagles shutout New York University 5-0 in Sanford, Florida on Friday to regain sole possession of first place in the conference tournament standings.

Emory, now 11-4 overall and 5-1 at the UAA Championships, took a one-game lead over both Case Western Reserve University and Washington University (Mo.) with two games left to play for each of the three teams.  Emory will play both in its final two games, taking on Case Western Reserve on Saturday, and Washington on Sunday.  The Eagles can win their 13^th conference title overall and second-straight with a win in either of its final two games.

Hansen was stellar for the second-straight outing against NYU, after pitching six shutout innings against the Violets to open the tournament on Sunday.  He combined for 13 shutout innings over the two games, yielding just six hits and striking out 13 while walking one batter.  Hansen improved to 3-1 on the year with the win, lowering his ERA to 1.90 for the year.

Hansen retired the first nine batters he faced in the game, not allowing a runner until a single from NYU's Christian Bloom in the bottom of the fourth.  He would go unblemished again until Bloom walked with two outs in the sixth, and did not let a runner into scoring position until NYU picked up a pair of hits off Hansen in the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Eagles' offense took a lead with a run in the first inning, after junior David Coble walked, stole both second and third, and scored on a two-out single from senior Wes Peacock.  Emory added a run in the third on an RBI groundout from senior Brett Lake, and then single runs in each of the fourth and fifth on a bases-loaded walk to Coble and an RBI groundout from senior Jordan Selbach.  The Eagles capped off their scoring in the top of the ninth, adding an insurance run on an RBI single from sophomore Philip Maldari.

Senior Michael Byman pitched a pair of hitless innings to close out the game for the Eagles.

NYU starter Chase Denison took the loss for the Violets, allowing four earned runs in five innings of work, falling to 0-3 on the year.  NYU dropped to 3-6 overall, including a 2-4 mark in conference games.

The Eagles can clinch at least a share of the conference title tomorrow, when they play Case Western Reserve at 5:00 pm.