After nearly upsetting USA South power Ferrum on the road last week, the return game in Harrisonburg didn't go as well for EMU's baseball team. The visiting Panthers used a five-run third inning to take over for a 12-3 decision on Tuesday.

The non-conference loss drops the Royals to 14-16. They play another non-ODAC opponent tomorrow, with a 3:30pm first pitch on the road at Hood College in Fredericksburg, Md.

Ferrum scored once in the first, but batted through the order in the third to blow the game open. The Panthers had a pair of two-run doubles in the frame to push the lead to 6-0.

Ryan Hedrick (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) knocked in EMU's first run on a two-out single in the fifth. But leaving runners on base was the men's problem, stranding 16 on the day. They left two on in seven of the innings.

The margin stood at 11-1 in the eighth when the subs touched home twice. Tyler McFadden (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) and Jared Jordan (South Hill, Va./Park View) each drove in runs during the frame.

Kyle Salladay (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) and Patrick Love (Bedford, Va./Staunton River) each had a pair of singles for EMU. Dean Lowery (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) scored twice.

Cody Gibson (Charlottesville, Va./Fluvanna) started on the mound, but was tagged for six runs in 2.1 innings and fell to 1-2 with the loss. Aaron Weaver (Sugar Creek, Ohio/Hiland) was the only one of EMU's five pitchers to not allow a run, striking out three in 1.2 frames.