The Oglethorpe baseball team dropped to 0-4 on the young season Wednesday, losing to crosstown rival Emory 18-8 in their home opener on Anderson Field.

A two-inning period in while the visiting Eagles accumulated 12 runs did the Petrels in. Emory scored six runs in the sixth inning to turn a close game into their favor, and then scored six more in the seventh, finishing the Petrels off.

The Petrels got back into the game after falling behind 6-0 early in the contest. They scored a run in the fourth when shortstop TJ Schmutz legged out an infield single to start the inning, then advanced to third on a couple of Emory errors. Left fielder Joey McAlpin followed with a sacrifice fly, driving in the Petrels' first run of the game.

The Petrels left the rest of the men on base, but came back in the fifth with a huge four-run inning that got them right back into the game. Second baseman Spencer Transue led the inning off with a walk, then right fielder Nick Manai followed with a single, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. An infield single from catcher Jeff Brothers then loaded the bases with nobody out. Designated hitter Cory Leff then stepped to the plate and cracked a two-run single to cut the Emory lead to 6-3. After a sacrifice bunt, third basman Keith Dearden singled home Brothers to cut the Emory lead to two runs. After a Frank Sarno walk, McAlpin drew the Petrels to within a single run with another sacrifice fly. The score was 6-5 in favor of Emory, but it was as close as the Petrels got, as Emory soon embarked on the 12-run scoring spree.

Oglethorpe added three runs in the ninth after the game had been decided on a bases loaded walk by pinch-hitter Casey Tuttle, an RBI single from Dearden, and a fielder's choice-RBI by left fielder Will Hanna.

Emmett Goodman suffered his second loss of the season for the Petrels, allowing five runs on four hits and six walks in three innings of work.

Schmutz went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the game, while McAlpin was 0-for-1, but netted two RBIs on two sacrifice flies.

The 0-4 Petrels will be back in action Saturday afternoon, when they welcome Bates in for a doubleheader. The first game gets underway at 1 p.m.