Sydney Reath (Chambersburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy) ripped a three-run homer to force extra innings against the nation's top-ranked team, but the Royals lost 8-4 in eight innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Virginia Wesleyan Tuesday in Harrisonburg. The Marlins won the opener as well, sending EMU's softball women to 21-9 overall and 9-9 in the ODAC.

Eastern Mennonite is at home on Thursday for their home finale, hosting McDaniel College. First pitch is at 3:00pm.

No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan 10, EMU 0 – 6 innings
Outside of a couple of bad pitches, starter Lauren Seale (Madison, Va./Madison County) did a good job over the first two innings. Unfortunately, those bad pitches turned into a couple of VWC homeruns and a 3-0 deficit. The Marlins (35-1/16-0 ODAC) strung some hits together in the third, building the lead to 5-0 and chasing Seale.

The Royals got their only baserunners in the fourth, with infield singles from Beck Hoskins (Danville, Va./Westover Christian Academy) and Reath. But Virginia Wesleyan ace Hannah Hull was in control the rest of the way. The Marlins combined a couple of hits with two EMU errors for a five-run sixth, triggering the mercy rule.

No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan 8, EMU 4 – 8 innings
The Royals got rolling quickly in the nightcap, with Alexa Sheets (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) leading off the bottom of the first with a double. With two away, Reath hit a roller to short and the throw pull VWC's first baseman off the bag, allowing Sheets to score for a 1-0 lead.

The Marlins returned fire with three runs in the second, and then made it 4-1 with another run in the third.

Eastern Mennonite got at least two runners on base in every inning from the third on, but couldn't break through until the bottom of the seventh. Sheets reached on an error and Foltz put a two-out single into left, triggering a move to the bullpen with Hull stepping back into the circle. Reath ignited the home crowd when she pulled a pitch down the left field line, sending a line drive over the fence for a three-run blast to tie the game.

The Royals got two more women on base but left them stranded, sending the game to extra innings.

VWC put together a big eighth, however, combining four walks with a couple of hits to score four times. Hull retired three straight Royals in the bottom of the frame, cutting off any hopes of a second comeback.

Sheets and Foltz each had a pair of hits in the nightcap. Savannah Jones (Stanley, Va./Page County) had a single and two walks. Reath hit her second homerun of the season, collecting three RBIs.

Reath and Seale each pitched in the game, with Seale taking the loss.

Coach J.D. McCurdy said his team made improvements from game one to game two: