HARRISONBURG, Va. - The EMU baseball team hosted the Shenandoah Hornets in a thrilling ODAC contest on Wednesday, falling by just one run, 12-11.

Showing strong grit, the near-comeback win is a positive look into the weekend. 

Highlights

• EMU fell into a quick 3-0 hole, but didn't allow it to hinder taking a strong offensive approach in the bottom of the first. Jordan Jones led off the Royals' day at the plate with a sharp single up the middle, with Jaylon Lee reaching after via a catcher's interference. After Brett Lindsay moved both of the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, Ray Tricarico knocked them in with a hard single down the right field line, just out of reach of the diving first baseman. 
• Heading into the bottom of the sixth down 11-3, the Diamond Royals showed fight. Natty Solomon reach on an error, moving all the way to third in the very next at-bat with a double off the bat of Blake Sargent. Noah Dahllof then issued a walk to load the bases up for EMU with only one out. Ethan Spraker came through to spark the scoring in the inning, knocking a single through the left side, scoring Solomon from third. 
• The run knocked the Hornets' starter out of the game, and the Royals continued to pound on. With the bases still loaded, Logan Mason knocked a single up the middle, collecting two RBI. With bases loaded later in the same frame, Lindsay hit a single just out of the reach of the right fielder to score two more. Tricarico rounded out the scoring in the sixth for the Royals, hitting one last RBI-single to score Lee from third. 
• Both teams threw up zeroes in the seventh and eighth innings, sending the game into the ninth with the Hornets up just 11-9. With Shenandoah adding one in the top of the ninth, EMU needed just three to tie up the game. Solomon, with one on and one away, hit a two-run home run to put the Royals within one. 
• The Royals battled in their final two outs, but ultimately fell in the thriller by its final tally. 

Standouts

• Lindsay - 2-4 with two RBI. 
• Tricarico - 2-5 with three RBI.
• Solomon - 2-5 with a home run and two RBI. 
• Mason - 3-4 with a double and two RBI. 
• Brendon Barrett - 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to keep the Royals within striking distance, striking out three. 
• Alec Riles - continued his strong outings on the mound with 3.0 innings of one-run ball.

What's Next

EMU travels to N.C. this weekend, taking on the Quakers of Guilford College in ODAC doubleheader action. First pitch is currently scheduled for 12:00 PM. 

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