RECAP>> Trailing 8-0 after three innings Emmaus battled back to get to within two runs of Blue Mountain with a late-game rally, but the comeback wasn’t enough as the Hornets fell to Eagles 9-6 in a non-league game Monday at Church Lane Park.
The loss was the second straight for Emmaus which dropped to 8-4 on the season.
Despite outhitting the Blue Eagles 10-4, the Hornets were once again hurt by walks as four Emmaus pitchers issued a combined 14 free passes in the game.
Starter Jude Negron, who was making his second start of the season, lasted just 1 1/3 innings of work after giving up seven runs and issuing five walks in just 1 1/3 innings.
The visitors waisted little time on jumping on Negron as they scored seven runs in the top of the second inning, chasing the Emmaus junior.
Relievers Braden Waller, Dylan Lehman and Jaime Hamilton combined to allow just two runs the rest of the way but were hurt by nine walks total between the three.
Senior left fielder Justus Darville was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, while classmate designated hitter Tyler Ritter also had a pair of hits. Negron drove in two runs.
Blue Mountain, which improved to 8-1 on the season, was led by shortstop Drew Grace, a Kentucky recruit, who had two RBI and reached base in all five plate appearances.
Starter Billy Gerlott picked up the win despite allowing nine hits. The Penn St commit went six innings and allowed all six runs before giving way to Derrick Yuengling who pitched the seventh.
Emmaus will look to snap its two-game losing skid on Tuesday at 4 p.m. as they get back into league play traveling to East Stroudsburg North.
Blue Mt. – 071 001 0 – 9-4-2
Emmaus – 000 132 0 – 6-10-3
Billy Gerlott, Derrick Yuengling (7) and Alex Tidmore
Jude Negron, Braden Waller (2), Dylan Lehman (4), Jaime Hamilton (7) and Ian Kauffman
WP – Gerlott, LP – Negron (2-1)
Em – Nytz 1-3, RBI; Negron 1-3, 2 RBI; Henseler 1-4, R; Robinson 1-4; Tulio 1-4, RBI; Ritter 2-3, Kauffman 1-3; Darville 2-4, 2 R; Madigan 0-2, R; Koprowicz 0-0, 2 R; Brooks 0-0