The Eastern Mennonite baseball team made their way back to the diamond, kicking off the year traveling to Virginia Wesleyan for a doubleheader to start off the 2021 season.

The Diamond Royals were able to pull off a split in the twin-bill, taking the first game, but unable to pull out the victory in the night cap.

EMU 5, VWU 2

The Diamond Royals took the first game of the 2021 season behind a solid pitching performance and a strong fifth inning at the plate.

In his first start of the season, Brendon Barrett (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) turned in an impressive performance, throwing 5.1 strong innings with seven strikeouts. The junior ran into some traffic in the sixth, turning the ball over to Gage Riddick (Gates County, N.C./Gates County), who threw 1.2 innings of work in relief with two strikeouts.

A four-run fifth inning made the difference for the Royals. The offensive threat began with a double to left off the bat of Ethan Spraker (Vinton, Va./William Byrd), who then stole third. Jordan Jones (Saxe, Va./Randolph Henry) grounded out to second, pushing across Spraker for the first run of the frame. Jaylon Lee (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) then powered a homer to left, notching the second run of the inning. RBI doubles from Robert Guenther (Falls Church, Va./George C. Marhsall) and Corey Willis (Fredricksburg, Va./Massaponax) pushed the score to 5-1. 

In the final frames, Hunter West (White Marsh, Va./Gloucester) came into the game, finishing off the Marlins with two strikeouts to earn the save.

The Royals outhit the Marlins 10-4 in the contest on their way to the win.

EMU 0, VWU 8

EMU was unable to get the offense going in the second game of the twin-bill, only mustering two hits in six innings played. The game was called after the top frame of the sixth due to darkness.

The pitching staff struggled finding the plate for the Diamond Royals, issuing 13 total walks.

Jones and Natty Soloman (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite/Hesston) notched the two hits for the Royals in the game.

John Judy (Shanks, W.V./Hampshite) was hit with the loss in his first start of the season, allowing six walks in 3.0 innings pitched with three strikeouts.

Robert Cook threw all six innings for the Marlins, allowing only the two hits with six strikeouts.

The Royal hit the diamond again in a week, hosting Ferrum College in doubleheader action on Saturday, Mar. 20 beginning at 12:00pm.