HARRISONBURG, Va. - The EMU softball team wrapped up its 2022 regular season on Saturday, taking on Roanoke. 

The Royals dropped an extra-inning heartbreaker, 6-5, in game one before being shut out 2-0 in game two. EMU ends the regular season at 19-14-1, 5-13 ODAC. 

Highlights - Game One

• The Maroons took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off EMU starter Katelin Martin. The Royals were able to tie it up in their half of the first, in a historic way. Kendall Stettler led off with a walk, followed by two outs. Sierra Lantz came up and drilled a pitch over the center field fence for her 10th homerun of the season. That homerun broke the EMU single season homerun record of nine, which was set by Courtney Allman in 2012. 
• Roanoke added a pair of runs in the second to take a 4-2 lead. Natalye Graham came in to pitch for Martin in the third and held RC scoreless to keep the deficit at two. In the home half of the third, Graham led off with a single, moved to third on an Erin Keith double and came in to score on Grace Fravel's sac fly. Roanoke extended their lead with a run in the fifth to pull ahead by a pair. 
• Stettler led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, stole second and scored on Fravel's RBI double that just narrowly missed being a homerun. Lantz singled, Becca Boone walked to load the bases and Kaitlyn Fletcher drove in a run with an RBI groundout to tie things at five. 
• Neither team was able to put any runs on the board in the sixth or seventh, forcing extra innings for EMU for the fifth time this season. Roanoke was able to plate a run off Emily Campbell in their half of the eighth, using a sac bunt and a single, to take a 6-5 lead. EMU moved the tying run to third with one out but Gracie Connor, who was pinch running, was thrown out at home trying to score the tying run. A foul out ended the game for the Royals with the tying run on first. 
• Campbell took the loss, pitching the final 1.2 innings and giving up no earned runs while striking out two. Offensively, Lantz had the only multi-hit day for the Royals while her and Fravel each drove in a pair. 

Lantz's Record-Breaking 10th Homerun

Highlights - Game Two

• The Royals bats were quieted in game two by Roanoke starter, Shanan Hester. But Campbell kept the Royals in the game with her own strong start in the circle. After keeping Roanoke scoreless through the first three innings, the Maroons were able to break through with a pair of runs in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. That would be all Hester would need as she only allowed two hits, both of which came in the final two innings. Lantz continued to stay hot at the plate with a single in the sixth and Bri Allen singled to lead off the seventh. 
• Campbell took the loss while pitching a great game. She gave up just the two runs on four hits while also striking out four. 

What's Next

Despite losing both games, EMU has qualified for the ODAC tournament by way of a Ferrum walk-off homerun against Randolph. They will be the tournament's #8 seed and will play Friday in at the Moyer Complex in Salem, Va. Check back later for the most up-to-date ODAC tournament schedule. 

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.