HARRISONBURG, Va. - After 19 days away from Gehman field, the EMU softball team returned home for a doubleheader against Mary Washington on Friday. 

The Royals dropped their first game of the season, falling 2-1 in game one, but responded with a walkoff 5-4 win over the Eagles in game two. EMU now sits at 9-1, 0-0 ODAC. 

Highlights - Game One

• The first game was a pitchers duel, with Eagles starter Caitlyn Burch and EMU starter Emily Campbell holding the other team scoreless. 
• Korenn Paige got EMU's first hit of the game in the second but was stranded at first after a strikeout. Becca Boone and Bri Allen both reached in the third but were once again kept from scoring when Burch picked up a groundball out. 
• The Eagles struck in the sixth when the leadoff batter homered to left and Campbell walked the next batter. Kaitlyn Fletcher replaced Campbell in the circle and got the first batter she faced to pop up to the catcher. The next batter sac bunted the runner to second and she came around to score on a two-out single. Fletcher got the final out on a groundout to second. The Royals responded in their half of the sixth with Bri Allen reaching on a fielder's choice, taking second on a groundout and scoring on Fletcher's RBI single. Sierra Lantz reached on an error and both advanced on a wild pitch, putting runners at second and third, but Burch picked up a strikeout to end the threat. Unfortunately, the Royals went down in order in the final frame, dropping their first game of the season. 
• Boone led the way offensively for EMU, picking up two hits while Fletcher had a hit and an RBI. Campbell went five innings, giving up just two runs while striking out three. The loss moves her to 3-1 on the season. 

Highlights - Game Two

• The offense came right away in game two, with Mary Washington scoring a run in the first off Royals starter Natalye Graham. But Graham was able to escape the inning with just the one run and she would keep the Eagles bats at bay for the bulk of the game. 
• In the second, Grace Fravel picked up a single up the middle and, with two outs, Graham helped her cause by lifting her first homerun of the season over the left field fence, giving EMU a 2-1 lead. 
• The Royals would add to that lead in the third, with Stettler leading off with a single, Fletcher moving her to second and Lantz blasting a ball over the left field fence for her third of the year, putting EMU ahead 4-1. 
• Mary Washington would chip away at the lead in the fifth, tacking on a run off a Royal error. Graham would sit UMW down in order in the sixth and came out in the seventh looking to finishing things off. The Eagles had other plans as the second batter doubled and came around to score on a homerun to straightaway center, tying things at four. Graham settled down and was able to escape the seventh with things tied. 
• Stettler led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Eagle catcher. Fletcher popped up to the third baseman, bringing up the power-hitting Lantz. After cranking a foul ball that left the field, she did the last thing anyone expected and laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Stettler in walkoff fashion. 
• Lantz finished with three hits and three RBI while Graham was 2-3 with a pair of RBI and a run. Stettler also had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Graham picked up the win in the circle, putting her at 2-0 on the season. 

By the Numbers

26 - Pitching between the two teams was strong on Friday, as the five pitchers combined for 26 strikeouts in 13.1 combined innings. 
3 - Lantz's three RBI is her third game of the season with a trio of runs batted in. 
.402 - The Royals have nine hitters with at least 17 at-bats on the season. They are hitting a combined .402 with 25 extra base hits and 66 RBI. 

Postgame Interview with Coach McCurdy and S. Lantz

What's Next

EMU will be back on the diamond on Saturday when they travel to Buena Vista for a doubleheader against Southern Virginia. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm. 

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the softball program this year follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.