The road trip started out very well, as EMU's softball women swept a pair of games from Emory & Henry Saturday afternoon. Now 17-7 overall and 4-2 in the ODAC, the Royals play at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., on Sunday.

Both conference sets are very important, as Emory & Henry and Guilford were tied for fifth in the ODAC Preseason Poll, while Eastern Mennonite was tabbed seventh.

EMU 8, Emory & Henry 6
The first game featured a wild finish, with the teams combining to score 11 runs over the final two-and-a-half innings. But through it all, the Royals never trailed.

Angelia Miller (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) jacked her third homer of the year as EMU built a 3-0 cushion through four innings. But the Wasps got a three-run blast in the bottom of the fifth to tie it up.

Jasmine Johnson (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had a two-run double and Danyele Smith (Broadway, Va./Broadway) added a solo shot and the women built back an 8-5 lead. EHC scored once in their final chance, but the Royals threw out a runner at home and stranded two on base to get the win.

The Royals had 13 hits, led by Aislinn Lucas (Grottoes, Va./Fort Defiance) going 3-3 with a walk. She scored twice. Sydney Reath (Chambersburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy) had two hits and two runs, while Carli Hill (Staunton, Va./Fort Defiance) was 2-4 with three RBIs.

Reath started the game in the circle and ended up throwing the final two outs as well to get the save. Janna Williams (Kenbridge, Va./Kenston Forest) gave up two runs in 0.2 innings, but improved to 5-0 with the win.

EMU 10, Emory & Henry 5
The women didn't slow down in the nightcap, batting through the order and scoring five runs in the top of the first. Smith had a two-run double.

Emory & Henry got within 6-5 with a big third inning, but Smith hit her second longball of the day, a two-run shot in the fourth to make it 8-5.

The Royals added single runs in the fifth and sixth, while Reath shut the Wasps down from the circle.

EMU had their second 13-hit effort of the day as six women each had two hits. Smith was 2-5 with two runs and four RBIs. She now has three homeruns on the season. Mariah Foltz (Broadway, Va./Broadway) finished 2-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs.

Reath was the most effective pitcher, as she threw the final 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five batters.