Box Score The EMU Diamond Royals lost at home to Hood on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 18-5. The non-conference loss drops the Royals to 12-17-1 on the season.
The Royals return to conference play on Saturday when they head down to Emory & Henry to play a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Hood (17-9-1/8-4 MAC) got the scoring started in the top of the second inning with back-to-back solo home runs. Then used three singles to start the top of the third to add three more runs.
Five more runs in the top of the fourth and three in the top of the fifth pushed the Blazers to a 13-run cushion.
The Royals got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when John Judy (Shanks, W.V./Hampshire) led the inning off with a double to right center. After Jacob Merica (Elkton, Va./East Rockingham) reached base on an error, Matt Lannes (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) hit a deep RBI single to right field that brought in Judy.
Four more hits brought in five more runs for Hood in the top of the ninth inning, but the Royals did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth getting the bases loaded to start the inning. Daniel Scott (Moneta, Va./Staunton River) brought in a run on a fielder's choice then Gage Riddick (Gates County, N.C./Gates County) hit an RBI single up the middle. Two more runs came accross when Jordan Brake (Roanoke, Va./Lord Botetourt) put the ball in play and reached on an error.
Lannes finished 2-2 with an RBI and scored once. Scott was 1-2 with a triple and an RBI. Riddick also batted 1-2 with an RBI and scored once.
Paul Wilson (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) threw two scoreless innings for the Royals giving up four hits. Jonathan Nagle (Chesapeake, Va./Portsmouth Christian) struck out three batters in a scoreless seventh inning and John Dudley (Raphine, Va./Riverheads) threw a scoreless eighth inning striking out one.
