Sophomore outfielder Chris Harpine (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) dropped a pair of home runs on the Bridgewater College Eagles but it was the home team that came out on top of a 9-8 decision as BC improved to an even 13-13 on the year Wednesday afternoon in Bridgewater, Va.

The Eagles are now 6-5 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with the win while EMU falls to 7-15-1 on the year, 2-7 in the conference.

Harpine finished the nine-inning game going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI. Juniors Chris Baker (Winchester, Va./John Handley) and Daniel Martin (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) also had big days at the dish with both players going 3-for-5. Martin drove in a pair while Baker scored once for EMU.

Junior shortstop Aaron Martin (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) and sophomore outfielder Ben Wise (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) each went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Andrew Chrismer and Tyler Hodges were each 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Aaron Read and Mitchell Edwards also had three hits in five at-bats with a run scored and an RBI.

The Eagles offense struck early and often as BC put up a three run first inning as Mike Lenox and Edwards had RBI singles in the inning. Bridgewater then added another single run in the fourth and sixth innings with a two-run sandwiched between them.

As the home team appeared to be crusing to their fifth straight victory over the Royals, EMU struck in a big way in the final two innings. A lead-off single by Wise to start the eighth inning was followed by the first home run by Harpine. BC escaped further damage in the frame and then went three-and-out in the bottom half of the inning.

Back-to-back singles by Baker and junior second baseman Cody Davis (Goodview, Va./Staunton River) started the ninth inning with Harpine again coming up with another big blast, his team leading eighth of the year.

EMU was not done there as Daniel Martin then roped an RBI double after a BC pitching change, scoring Aaron Martin and freshman catcher Dylan Smith (Sterling, Va./Park View), tying the contest at seven all. EMU then scored another run on a bases loaded passed ball to take an 8-7 lead. Eagle pitcher Travis Bullock worked his way out of the jam by getting the final out of the inning on a foul out to give the home team a chance.

BC made the most of their opportunity in the bottom of the inning as an RBI double by Aaron Read scored Edwards with the tying run. With Read at second, Brett Howell stepped to the plate and promptly drove in the game-winning run on an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Read.

Smith went 2-for-4 with a run scored for EMU.

Next up for EMU will be a home double header against the Quakers of Guilford College on Saturday, April 4, beginning at 4 p.m.