Panthers top Emory in 13 innings
April 14, 2009

ATLANTA, Ga. – LaGrange College pushed across two runs in the top of the 13th inning to down Emory University 15-13 at Chappell Park on Tuesday. The Panthers upped their season record to 20-14 with the non-conference win. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Eagles (20-14), and was the first win at Chappell Park since 2005.

The Panthers had a season-high 22 hits in the game. Eric Heath led the way with four hits. Jordan Martinec, Luis Perez and Tyson Sandlin had three hits each. Martinec had his third home run of the season and drove in three runs.

Ben Hudson (5-1) pitched five innings of scoreless relief to get the win. He allowed a hit, walked three and struck out four. Hudson was the fifth pitcher in the game for the Panthers.

Jeff Tucker started the game. He pitched 2-1/3 innings, allowing six runs, walking four and striking out one. J.J. Martone allowed a run in 1-1/3 innings. Taylor Smith pitched a scoreless inning and Eric Medlock allowed six runs in three innings.

The Panthers trailed 7-3 after five innings. In the sixth inning, the Panthers sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs for a 13-7 lead. Five of the 10 runs came with two outs in the inning.

The Panthers had 10 hits in the inning. Hudson, batting as the designated hitter, put the Panthers up 8-7 with a two-run single. Korey Ison reached on an error to keep the inning going. Martinec followed with a three-run home run to left field to make it 12-7. Corbin Clinage's RBI single drove in David Miller with the final run of the inning.

Emory got three runs back in its half of the seventh inning to cut the Panthers lead to 13-10. The Eagles chased Medlock in the ninth and Hudson came in with two runners on and a run in.

Marc Terranova singled through the left side, driving in two runs to tie the game at 13-13. After an intentional walk, Hudson got out of the inning by getting Andrew Cohn to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Hudson ran into trouble in the 11th inning. He walked lead-off batter Jeremy Bolian and committed an error, allowing David Hissey to reach. A sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with only one out.

Dan Molnar was intentionally walked to load the bases. Hudson came back to strike out Steve Bralver and Cohn both looking to end the threat and extend the game.

The Panthers pushed across the winning run and an insurance run in the top of the 13th inning. Miller was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Perez's sacrifice bunt moved Miller up to second and Clinage reached on an error to put runners on the corners.

Jason Aylesworth's bunt single brought in Miller with the go-ahead run. Heath followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Clinage to make it 15-13.

Hudson finished the game by retiring the side in the Eagles' half of the 13th inning. He retired the last eight batters he faced.

The 13 inning game was the longest by the Panthers since the 2007 season. The Panthers defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11-10 in 12 innings. The Panthers have split two extra-inning games this season. They lost 9-8 to Oglethorpe in 10 innings on Feb. 25.

The Panthers close out their GSAC schedule with a three-game series at Piedmont College beginning Friday.