HARRISONBURG, Va. - When the Royals get rolling, they can play with the best in the ODAC...and Saturday, that's exactly what they did. 

EMU celebrated senior day Saturday with a doubleheader against #6 Randolph-Macon. The Royals bested the Yellow Jackets 6-5 in game one before dropping a close 7-6 game two. EMU now sits at 19-12-1, 5-11 ODAC. 

Highlights - Game One

• Senior Katelin Martin got her first start in the circle in game one against RMC. She sat the Yellow Jackets down in order, bringing the Royals offense up against Gracie Ellis, one of the ODAC, and nation's, best pitchers. She made quick work of EMU in the first and Becca Boone singled but was left at first in the second, but Martin matched her, keeping Randolph-Macon off the board through two. The Royals defense came up with a nice defensive play in the bottom of the second. With the runners on first and second, and two outs, Erin Keith fielded a single up the middle from center field, fired home to Becca Boone, who put the tag on the runner trying to score just in time to pick up the out and keep the game scoreless. 
• In the third, RMC was able to take a 1-0 lead. After a single, a fielder's choice and a stolen base, another single plated a run, giving RMC the lead. EMU responded in kind in their half of the third, however. Emily Campbell led off with a single and Brandy Troutman reached on an error by the catcher. Keith grounded into a fielder's choice and Fravel reached on another Yellow Jacket error, loading the bases for Boone. Boone cleared the bases with a double to the right-center fence to put EMU ahead 3-1. Sierra Lantz followed that up with a two-run homerun to left center, giving EMU a 5-1 lead. 
• Martin continued to look strong, allowing just two runs in the fourth but continuting to maintain the lead for EMU. Lantz continued her strong day with a solo homerun in the sixth, extending the lead to 6-3. Her homerun was the ninth of the season, which ties the EMU single-season homerun record, previously held by Courtney Allman. 
• Lantz's homerun would prove to be needed for the game winner as RMC was able to plate a pair in their half of the seventh. But with the tying run at second, Martin got a groundball to third for the final out, securing the upset win. She picked up her first win of the season, pitching all seven innings, giving up three earned runs and just one walk. 
• At the plate, the Royals were led by Boone and Lantz, who had two hits apiece and three RBI each. 

Postgame Interview with S. Lantz and K. Martin

Highlights - Game Two

• Randolph-Macon got on the board in the first inning against Campbell. After a leadoff single, the next batter homered giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead. Campbell then issued a pair of walks but settled down and worked out of the jam, keeping RMC from adding to its lead. She would continue to keep them scoreless over the next two frames and EMU was able to take a lead in the third. Campbell led off with a single and Keith picked up a two-out single herself, putting runners at first and second with two outs. Fravel then worked the count deep before blasting a three-run homerun over the right-center fence, putting the Royals ahead 3-2. 
• Macon would re-take the lead with its own three-run homerun in the fourth before Natalye Graham came in to relieve Campbell. RMC was able to get runners to second and third with only one out, but Graham forced a pop out and picked up a big strikeout to end the threat. In the EMU half of the fourth, Lantz led off with a single and Bri Allen followed that up, reaching on an error and advancing to second, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Korenn Paige's sac fly plated Lantz, cutting RMC's lead to one before Graham doubled to the fence, scoring Allen and tying things at five. 
• EMU took the lead this time, with Lantz plating Fravel in the bottom of the fifth and giving the Royals a 6-5 lead. Graham worked around a double in the sixth to keep the lead intact but in the seventh, a few softly hit singles added two runs to Macon's total and gave them a 7-6 advantage. Keith led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, Fravel singled and Keith moved to third on Boone's sac bunt. But a strikeout and a pop out ended the game and sent RMC back to Ashland with a split. Graham took the loss despite pitching 3.2 solid innings of relief. She gave up just two earned runs while striking out five. 
• Offensively, Fravel was 3-4 with three RBI and two runs while Keith and Lantz each had a pair of hits. Lantz and Paige had an RBI each to cap off their senior day. 

What's Next

EMU will wrap up the 2022 regular season next Saturday with a home doubleheader against Roanoke College. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 pm. 

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