After six road games to kick off the baseball season, Eastern Mennonite had its home opener Saturday afternoon against Messiah. Although the Royals struggled to scratch out hits in the twinbill, they proved opportunistic and picked up a split with the Falcons to move to 3-5 on the year.

Messiah 9, EMU 2
Box Score
With a strong wind blowing from left to right across the diamond, the game sailed through the first three innings with the teams combining for just three hits. But Messiah broke through in the fourth.

After starter Jason Tate (Herndon, Va./Herndon) struck out the first two batters, the Falcons unleashed four hits, including a two-run double, to jump on top 4-0.

They kept rolling to a 7-0 lead before EMU got on the scoreboard in the sixth. The Royals loaded the bases with one out with the help of two Messiah errors, and then scored a pair of runs when the Falcons couldn't turn a doubleplay.

But Messiah tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh and cruised to the 9-2 win.

Tate lasted five innings and took the loss. He struck out ten batters but also walked four. Chris Harpine (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) had two of EMU's four hits and scored a run.

EMU 3, Messiah 2
Box Score
The Falcons against scored first in the second game, taking a 1-0 lead after a one-out triple in the first.

Freshman Adam Posey (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) locked into a pitchers' duel with Messiah's Jon Lapp as the score stayed 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth.

Adrian Perez (Miami, Fl./Doral Academy) knocked a two-out double and Ryan McAlister (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) knocked him home with a single.

The Falcons went back on top in the sixth, however, with a pair of one-out hits, chasing Posey. Closer Thomas Worley (Prince George, Va./Prince George) took over on the mound and got back-to-back strikeouts to end the rally.

EMU's offense then took its first lead in the bottom of the frame. Michael Wade (New Hope, Va./Fort Defiance) led off with a walk and the Royals ended up scoring two runs without any hits. The first run scored on an error by the right fielder. Dylan Smith (Sterling, Va./Sterling) scored the go-ahead run when Messiah's catcher couldn't handle a third strike.

With the 3-2 lead, Worley slammed the door in the seventh as he got a fly ball and two more strikeouts to seal the win.

Worley picked up the win to go to 1-0 as he struck out four of the five batters he faced. Posey allowed six hits over 5-1/3, striking out nine. Combined with the first game of the day, EMU pitchers had 25 strikeouts in 14 innings.

The offense had just three hits but made the most of them. Smith and McAlister had the lone RBIs.

Eastern Mennonite moves to 3-5 after the home opening split. The Royals are on the road Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader at Averett.