FERRUM, Va. – The Royals softball team hit the road Saturday, making the trek down to Ferrum for a doubleheader against the Panthers.

EMU picked up a pair of much-needed wins, downing Ferrum 5-2 in game one before picking up the sweep with a 5-1 W in game two.

EMU at Ferrum – Game One

Records: 9-15-1, 2-9 ODAC | Ferrum College 10-13, 2-7 ODAC

WP: Natalye Graham (5-8)
LP: Erin Nelson (1-7)

Highlights

• EMU got on the board early as Samantha Hensley homered to right center with two outs in the first, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead. They added to their lead with a solo shot from Autumn Bailey in the second and a two-run homerun from Grace Fravel in the third, which plated Reese Rogers, giving EMU a 4-0 lead.
• Graham allowed base runners in the first and second, but didn't allow her first hit until back-to-back singles in the third. But with Panthers on first and second, she induced a flyout to keep EMU on top.
• Ferrum was able to cut the Royals lead in half in the bottom of the sixth. After a lead off single, a double to left-center plated the Panthers first run. A wild pitch moved the runner to third and she scored on an RBI single to left. But a lineout and a strikeout ended the threat with the Royals leading 4-2.
• An insurance run came in the Royals half of the seventh as Rayn Robinson led off with a bunt single, moved to second on a sac bunt and came in to score on Hensley's RBI single. Graham sat the Panthers down in order in the bottom of the seventh, ending the game with a strikeout, her 12^th of the day.

Statistical Leaders

Hensley: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R

Bailey: 2-3, HR, RBI, R

Graham: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 12 K

EMU at Ferrum – Game Two

Records: EMU 10-15-1, 3-9 ODAC | Ferrum College 10-14, 2-8 ODAC

WP: Fravel (3-5)
LP: Emily Walker (0-1)
Sv: Graham (1)

Highlights

• Just like game one, EMU took an early lead in game two. Rogers led off the game with a double, moved to third on Hensley's single and scored on Fravel's sac fly.
• Neither team was able to find much offense in the second or third innings but in the fourth, EMU added to their lead after Becca Boone reached second on an error, moved to third on Taylor Umberger's groundout and came in to score on Bailey's RBI single. Ferrum pulled within a run in their half of the fourth on an RBI single before Fravel ended the inning by picking up a groundout with the bases loaded.
• Once again, neither team would score in the fifth and sixth, as the Royals put runners on second and third in the sixth, but couldn't push anyone across. Fravel put the Panthers down in order in the fifth before giving way to Graham in the sixth. She got the first batter to fly out and finished the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
• EMU added insurance runs in the seventh as Bailey singled to lead off the inning and Robinson came in to pinch run. A sac bunt and a Carsen Brake single put runners on first and third, bringing up Rogers. She laced a pitch through the left side, scoring Robinson and moving Brake to second. Madi Armentrout singled, loading the bases and Hensley followed that up with a two-RBI single, putting the Royals on top 5-1. Graham worked around a leadoff single to pick up the final three outs and secure the save.

Statistical Leaders

Rogers: 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R

Hensley: 3-4, 2 RBI

Fravel: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER

What's Next

EMU will be back in action on Sunday as they head to Lynchburg for a showdown with the Hornets. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1:30 pm.

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