HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals baseball team faced off against the Quakers of Guilford College on Saturday where they would compete in a single match against this ODAC opponent.

The Royals held a lead through seven innings but a pair of runs from Guilford in the eighth and one in the ninth was the difference, as GC picked up the 6-5 win.

Records: EMU 7-24, 3-12 ODAC | Guilford College 16-14-1, 5-9-1 ODAC

WP: Ty Clark (2-3)
LP: Braydon Collier (1-1)

Highlights

• The Royals jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Singles from Logan Mason and Nick Arnold put runners on first and second, and Natty Solomon's base hit drove in Mason. Erik Wilkinson followed that up with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Alex Gulisano was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, and Matthew Harding's fielder's choice would score Solomon, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead.  
• In the bottom of the third inning the Royals would add to their lead. Gulisano would single to the pitcher off of a bunt, plating Arnold for a 4-0 lead.
• Royals starter Hunter West was cruising through the five innings, holding the Quakers scoreless. He got in some trouble in the sixth as a three-run homerun would pull GC within one. But got out of the inning with a strikeout and a pop out to keep the one-run lead. Ethan Spraker put EMU up two with an RBI infield single in the Royals half of the sixth, pushing the lead to 5-3.
• EMU used a pair of pitchers in the seventh and Guilford was able to load the bases but Cooper Thomas picked up a fly out to end the threat. Collier came in to pitch with runners on first and second in the eighth and after a sac bunt and a walk loaded the bases, Guilford struck with a two-run single, tying things at five. Harding led off the eighth with a triple, but would stay at third as EMU went down over the next three batters.
• Guilford took the lead on a pair of doubles in the ninth before Skylar Lacks came on in relief and got the final out. Arnold doubled with one out but was stranded there as a groundout and a fly out ended the game.  

Statistical Leaders

Arnold: 3-5, 2B, 2 R

Solomon:  2-3, R, RBI

What's Next

The Royals will remain home to play the second game of the weekend against Guilford. This game will be held at 12pm on Sunday.

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