The EMU softball women continue to pick up steam, as they have now won six of their last eight games after Tuesday's sweep of Juniata College in Harrisonburg.  The Royals won both contests in walk-off fashion as they improve to 11-12-1 overall.

EMU 4, Juniata 3
Nicolette Cuevas (Suffolk, Va./King's Fork) had an RBI double in EMU's half of the second, but the visiting Eagles touched home three times to put Juniata up 3-1 after three.

The women left at least one runner on base in every inning before finally cutting the lead to 3-2 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.  Still trailing by one in their final at-bat, the Royals rallied.  Casey Racer (Madison, Va./Madison County) led off with a single, and another single followed by a walk loaded the bases.  Freshman Mariah Foltz (Broadway, Va./Broadway) then smacked a double to left center, scoring two runs for the walk-off win.

Foltz was the star of the game, batting 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.  She also earned the win in relief, pitching the final 4.2 scoreless innings.  She allowed just two hits while striking out four.  Jordan Aylor (Madison, Va./Madison County) started from the circle, but gave up all three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings.

Molly Smith (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) added a pair of hits and scored a run.  Cuevas also had two hits with an RBI.

EMU 8, Juniata 0 – 5 innings
The second game was all about balance and efficiency, as the Royals spread out 12 hits and left only one runner on base until a walk-off hit ended the game in the fifth.

Aylor was the lone woman with multiple hits, as she went 3-3 with two homeruns, giving her five on the year.  She scored three runs and had two RBIs.  Brooke Hensley (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) was 1-2 with a walk, scoring twice and driving in another.  Foltz finished 1-3 with two RBIs and a run.  Aislinn Lucas (Grottoes, Va./Fort Defiance) also went deep, getting her first homer of the season.

Cara Neikirk (Salem, Va./Glenvar) provided the late-inning heroics, as she invoked the mercy rule with a pinch hit RBI single with two outs in the fifth.  Normally used exclusively as a pitcher, it was just Neikirk's second-ever at-bat.

Lauren Campbell (Stuarts Draft, Va./Stuarts Draft) earned the complete game win from the circle, getting her first victory of the season.  The sophomore allowed just three hits in 5.0 innings for the shutout.

Eastern Mennonite returns to ODAC play Wednesday, hosting Shenandoah University at 3:00pm.

Coach J.D. McCurdy talks about the two wins over Juniata: