VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Royals had a tall order in front of them on Sunday, taking the four-hour trip to Virginia Beach to take on the defending national champion and 14th ranked Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan. 

Unfortunately for EMU, VWU lived up to its billing as they picked up a pair of run-rule wins, taking down the Royals 10-1 and 11-2. EMU falls to 17-10-1, 3-9 ODAC. 

Highlights – Game One

• EMU took a lead in the top of the first. After a groundout to lead off, Erin Keith, Sierra Lantz and Grace Fravel all walked to load the bases. Becca Boone's sac fly to center plated Keith, giving EMU a 1-0 lead.
• The Marlins were able to pull ahead 5-1 on Fravel, who got the start in the circle for EMU. She was replaced in the first by Katelin Martin, making her second appearance in as many days. She picked up two big outs to keep the VWU advantage at four.
• The Royals were able to put runners on base in the third and fourth, including a single by Boone, but couldn't cut into the Marlins lead. Meanwhile, Virginia Wesleyan was able to tack on five more runs to take a 10-1 lead through four. EMU went down in order in the fifth to wrap up the run-rule victory for VWU. Fravel took the loss for EMU, moving her to 1-2 on the season. Boone had the only hit and the only RBI for EMU.

Highlights – Game Two

• The Marlins took an early 7-0 lead on EMU to start the second game, picking up three runs in the first and four in the second off Natalye Graham, who started in the circle for EMU. 
• In the third, EMU put some runs on the board and chipped into the Wesleyan lead. Lantz picked up a two-out walk before Fravel belted a two-run homerun over the left field fence for her third of the season, to make it a 7-2 game. 
• In the fourth, Graham doubled to lead off the frame but was stranded on second after VWU's starter picked up a strikeout, a groundout and a pop out. Graham kept the Marlins bats off balance through the third and fourth but Wesleyan ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a walk-off homerun to give them the victory. Graham fell to 4-5 on the season. 
• At the plate, EMU was led by Lantz, Fravel, Graham and Korenn Paige, who all had a hit for EMU. Fravel had the only RBI for the Royals with a pair. 

What's Next

EMU will look to snap its six-game losing streak on Wednesday when they host Shenandoah for an ODAC doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to start at 3 pm with game two starting shortly after completion. Game two is also softball's Rowdy Royals game. 

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