HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals kicked off ODAC play on Saturday, taking on Roanoke College in a home doubleheader.

The Royals tied game one at six with a two-run homerun, but Roanoke tacked on two in the ninth to pick up an 8-6 win. In game two, the Maroons starter was dealing, allowing just one run on two hits in a complete game 8-1 RC win.

EMU vs Roanoke College – Game One

Records: EMU 4-10, 0-1 ODAC | Roanoke College 7-7, 1-0 ODAC

WP: Will Turner (3-0)
LP: Brendon Barrett (1-2)
Sv: Aiden Kuhle (2)

Highlights

• Royals starter Hunter West sat the Maroons down in order in the first and second, keeping the game scoreless. In the bottom of the second, after a Cole Bashinski double, Natty Solomon drove him in with an RBI single, putting the Royals ahead 1-0.
• West worked out of a jam in the third before giving up a run and leaving the game with runners on the corners. Trey Deane took over on the mound and gave up a sacrifice fly, putting Roanoke ahead 2-1. The Maroons added a run in the fifth on an RBI single, moving ahead 3-1.
• The Royals cut their deficit to one with a Bashinski RBI in the sixth before RC responded with three in the seventh off Will Waller.
• In the bottom of the seventh, trailing 6-2, the Royals battled back with a pair of runs. A sac fly from Alex Gulisano and a single from Logan Mason pulled EMU within two. After Brendon Barrett kept RC off the board, Solomon tied things with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the eighth.
• In the ninth, Roanoke added a pair with an RBI single, retaking the lead. EMU was able to bring the tying run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the game.

Statistical Leaders

Solomon: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, R

Mason, Arnold, Gulisano: 2 hits apiece

EMU vs Roanoke College – Game Two

Records: EMU 4-11, 0-2 ODAC | Roanoke College 8-7, 2-0 ODAC

WP: Caleb Lingenfelter (3-1)
LP: Alec Riles (0-4)

Highlights

• It was a pitchers' duel through the first four innings. Royals starter Keenan Fulwood pitched well, giving up just one run in four innings. His only run was on a wild pitch in the first inning. The Royals tied things up in the third when Jason Dwyer singled to lead off and later scored on a wild pitch.
• Unfortunately, the Maroons were able to add five runs in the fifth and one apiece in the sixth and seventh and Lingenfelter held the Royals hitless over the final six innings to pick up the complete-game win.

Statistical Leaders

Dwyer: 1-3, R

Solomon: 1-1, 2B

Fulwood: 4.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 4K

What's Next

The Royals will continue ODAC play on Tuesday when they take on Washington and Lee at Royals Field. Game time is 4 pm.

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