LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Royals had a tall order in front of them on Monday. They had to take down top-seeded, and #6 nationally-ranked Lynchburg twice to secure a spot in next weekend's ODAC Tournament semifinals. 

In the end, the Royals pitching looked stellar but it was the Hornets who came out on top, picking up a 5-1 win and ending the Royals season. EMU finishes at 12-24, 7-13 ODAC. 

Highlights 

• EMU starter Adrian Abad sat the Hornets down in order in the top of the first but Lynchburg was able to plate a pair in the second before Abad stranded a runner on second with a pair of strikeouts. 
• The score stayed 2-0, but the Royals had their best opportunity of the weekend in their half of the fourth. Brett Lindsay led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Natty Solomon walked and Robert Guenther was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. But a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat and kept the Royals off the board. 
• Abad continued to keep the Lynchburg bats off balance until he was replaced by Brendan Barrett with two outs and runners on second and third in the fifth. Barrett issued a walk to load the bases but induced a groundout to keep the game deficit at two. 
• Barrett worked a clean sixth and seventh and Jon Sawyers struck out the side in the eighth but the Royals only had one baserunner in those four innings, a Jordan Jones hit-by-pitch in the eighth. 
• Lynchburg was able to add three insurance runs off Sawyers in their half of the ninth, giving the Hornets a 5-0 advantage. EMU was able to get on the board in the bottom of the ninth after Ray Tricarico tripled to lead off the frame and came in to score on Gage Riddick's sac fly to left field. But, with a runner on second, a strikeout ended the game for EMU. 
• Abad picked up the loss for EMU, giving up just one earned run in 4.2 innings, walking two and striking out six. The Royals bullpen pitched the final 4.1 innings, giving up just three hits and three runs with seven Ks. 
• At the plate, EMU was led by Jones, Lindsay, Tricarico, Solomon and Ethan Spraker, who had a hit apiece. Riddick had the lone RBI for EMU. 

What's Next

EMU will have a lot to replace this offseason as they'll graduate the majority of their top bats, which also accounted for six of the Royals starting nine. They will, however, return a good amount of arms to the mound next year who all saw innings this season. 

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