Baseball – Slumping Hornets drop sixth straight as they close out regular-season with first loss to Reading in five years 5-2; team now 10-10 heading into playoffs

RECAP >> The regular-season came to an end Thursday for slumping Emmaus, and with it, yet another defeat.

Now, somehow, they need to regroup and get ready for the post-season.

The Hornets suffered their sixth straight loss in a non-league game at Reading yesterday as they were held to just two runs in a 5-2 loss to the Red Knights.

Emmaus, which has dropped eight of its last 10 games, ends the regular-season with a disappointing 10-10 overall record, the most losses by a Hornets squad since 2008 when they had to forfeit nine wins due to an ineligible player on their roster.

The Hornets never led in the game as Reading (9-10 overall) scored a pair of runs in both the second and third innings and then added a solo run in the fifth before Emmaus finally got on the board with two runs in the sixth inning.

In the defeat, Emmaus outhit Reading 7-4 with second baseman Keegan Nytz, shortstop Wyatt Henseler and right fielder Jude Negron each having two hits. First baseman Andrew O’Brien had the only other hit.

Freshman Jaden Gallagher suffered his second loss of the season (0-2) in his third start as he gave up four runs on just three hits in four innings of work. Senior Robert Church pitched the final two innings. The two pitchers issued seven walks.

Reading senior Wily Pichardo tossed a complete game as he scattered seven hits and walked none.

First baseman sophomore Emanuel Morales had a pair of hits in the win for the Knights.

Up next for Emmaus will be the EPC playoffs on Saturday at 11 a.m. as they’ll travel up Cedar Crest Boulevard to take on rival Parkland for the third time this season. The Trojans won both regular-season meetings (17-11 & 8-3).

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Emmaus – 000 002 0 – 2-7-1

Reading – 022 010 0 – 5-4-0

Jaden Gallagher, Robert Church (5) and Sam Dietz

Pichardo and Velez

LP – Gallagher (0-2)