After a week of postponed games due to rain and snow, the Oglethorpe baseball team was eager to get back out on the field. They showed it Sunday afternoon with a 13-8 victory at crosstown rival Emory's season opener. They outhit the homestanding Eagles 19-9.

The Petrels had to hold on late, as Emory erased a 6-0 deficit to tie the game 6-6 in the fifth. Oglethorpe immediately scored two runs in the top of the sixth, though, and then put the game away in the top of the ninth.

Up 8-7 entering the inning, the Petrels got runners on second and third with nobody out and second baseman Jake Spear drove home a run on a sacrifice fly. Then an Emory error and an intentional walk loaded the bases for third baseman J.J. Rizzo, who singled home left fielder Andrew Lofholm to make the score 10-7.

The Petrels would pick up another run on an Emory wild pitch, and then two more on a sacrifice foulout by designated hitter Andy Farrey and an RBI single by catcher Adam Brazenas. That increased the lead to 13-7, and the Petrels got three outs in the bottom half of the inning for the victory.

Before a six-run Emory fifth inning tied it, Oglethorpe looked like they might cruise to victory in this one. After an RBI double by Farrey in the first, the Petrels scored four runs in the second. RBI singles by Lofholm and Cornwell, and a two-run double by Rizzo provided the runs to get Oglethorpe out to the big lead.

Rizzo had a huge day for Oglethorpe, going 5-for-6 with a double, five RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Center fielder Brendan Pilger chipped in a 3-for-5 day with a double, three runs scored and two stolen bases of his own.

The win improves the Petrels to 2-1 on the new season. Their next game will be at Piedmont on Wednesday. First pitch will be at approximately 7 p.m. from Demorest, Ga.