The EMU softball team made the short trip north to Winchester on Thursday, playing an ODAC doubleheader against Shenandoah University in the cold and windy conditions. The women had a late lead in the first game before dropping both ends of the set.

The Royals wrap up their season at home next Tuesday, hosting Randolph College in a rescheduled doubleheader. First pitch on Gehman Field is slated for 3:00pm.

Shenandoah 6, EMU 5
The opener started out ominously, with Shenandoah scoring an unearned run in the first and a two-out run in the second.

Korenn Paige (Winchester, Va./Sherando) hit a two-out double in the top of the third to cut the margin in half, but SU put it at 4-1 in the bottom of the frame. Then Emily Campbell (Broadway, Va./Broadway) led off the fourth with a walk which started a slow-developing rally. Erin Keith (Stuart, Va./Patrick County) added a single before Bri Allen (Weyers Cave, Va./Fort Defiance) hit a two-out single to bring in both runners. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Paige had another clutch two-out hit, shooting a single up the middle to score two more for EMU's first lead at 5-4.

But the Hornets were efficient in taking the lead back in the bottom of the inning, using a walk, sacrifice, single and double to plate two runs and re-take a one-run lead.

After all the fireworks, both offenses cooled off for the last three frames. The Royals managed just one baserunner in the fifth inning and dropped the 6-5 decision.

Paige had half of EMU's hits, going 3-4 with three RBIs. Keith had a pair of hits, while Allen had one single but scored a run with two RBIs. Elizabeth Horn (Dover, Del./Polytech) walked twice and scored both times.

Campbell pitched a complete game, striking out five but taking the loss.

Shenandoah 10, EMU 2 – 6 inn.
After the tight game one, Shenandoah controlled the nightcap, starting with a three-run first inning.

Autumn Bailey (Harrisonburg, Va./East Rockingham) had an RBI single in the top of the second before SU scored two more in the bottom of the frame for a 5-1 lead.

Sierra Lantz (Broadway, Va./Broadway) pulled a solo homer down the left field line in the third, but that was it for EMU's offense.

The Hornets plated two runs in the fifth, and then invoked the mercy rule with three more in the sixth.

Lantz paced the offense in the second game, batting 3-3 with her fifth home run of the season. Bailey went 2-2 with the RBI.

Katelin Martin (Goochland, Va./Goochland) was charged with all the runs in taking the pitching loss.