Presbyterian College belted 11 hits but stranded 15 runners en route to a 13-6 loss to Eastern Michigan in baseball action this afternoon in front of 165 fans at the PC Baseball Complex in Clinton S.C.
Presbyterian College (4-4) scored first with three runs in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Gabe Grammer (Irmo, S.C.) reached on a single up the middle and was brought home by Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.), who hit for the eighth game in a row as he belted a two-run home run over the left field wall. He was followed by Kenny Bryant (Goose Creek, S.C.), who hit an opposite field home run, his second of the season, and PC led 3-0.
Eastern Michigan (4-4) responded in the top of the second with five runs off five hits, including doubles by Zack Leonard, Lee Longo and Ken Battiston, to go up 5-3.
PC answered with a run in the bottom of the second after a fielder's choice brought in John Wagner (Olney, Md.), who also reached on a fielder's choice. Despite three hits, the Blue Hose stranded bases loaded and the score after two was 5-4 in favor of the Eagles.
The Eagles tacked on a run in the fourth and fifth innings, as well as two runs in the final three innings each to come away with the 13-6 win.
Down 9-4, PC threatened in the seventh with two runs and loaded bases in the eighth but could not get any closer.
"The team still needs to be able to work through adversity," said head coach Elton Pollock. "They have done it before and good teams always find a way consistently."
Zebedis paced the team, going two-for-two with two RBI. Andrew Williams (Augusta, Ga.) was three-for five with one RBI.
Tucker Rubino and Lee Longo paced EMU, both going two-for-four with two RBI each.
Chandler Knox (Columbia, S.C.) threw 3.2 innings, and gave up six runs (four earned) off seven hits for the loss (1-1). Tim Combs went 5.0 innings in relief and gave up two runs off five hits.
The Blue Hose host Eastern Michigan in the final game of the series Wednesday, Mar. 2. First pitch at the PC Baseball Complex is at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on www.GoBlueHose.com.
