HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals softball team wrapped up the 2023 season on Saturday, taking on Averett at home.

The Cougars pitching shut EMU down in game one, winning 6-0, before EMU's offense rebounded in game two, slugging 10 hits in a 9-3 win.

EMU vs Averett – Game One

Records: EMU 10-22-1, 3-16 ODAC | Averett 9-30, 4-15 ODAC

WP: Taylor Sullivan (6-12)
LP: Natalye Graham (5-12)

Highlights

• Graham picked up a strikeout in the bottom of the first. With the K, she hit 100 strikeouts on the season in just her second year as a Royal. In the bottom of the first, Samantha Hensley singled, but was stranded there as the teams were scoreless after one.
• A two-run homerun in the second and a pair of singles and a sac fly in the third gave Averett a 5-0 lead through three. Meanwhile, EMU didn't pick up their second hit of the game until a Grace Fravel single in the fourth and then a Taylor Umberger base hit in the fifth was hit number three, but neither of them would produce any runs for the Royals.
• An RBI single in the top of the seventh was the final run for AU and it looked like EMU would get on the board in their half of the frame. Boone singled and Umberger moved her to third with a double, but a flyout and a groundout ended the game.

Statistical Leaders

Umberger: 2-3, 2B

Hensley, Fravel, Boone: 1-3 each

EMU vs Averett – Game Two

Records: EMU 11-22-1, 4-16 ODAC | Averett 9-31, 4-16 ODAC

WP: Reese Rogers (1-2)
LP: Hannah Zabik (2-12)

Highlights

• Rogers led off the Royals half of the first with a hit by pitch and moved to second on Madi Armentrout's sac bunt. Hensley's double plated Rogers giving EMU a 1-0 lead. In the circle, Rogers kept the Cougars off the board in the first two innings, but a three spot in the third put AU ahead 3-1.
• EMU tied things in their half of the third after Carsen Brake singled and Rogers walked, putting runners at first and second. Armentrout's sac bunt resulted in an Averett error, which scored Brake and put Rogers on third. Hensley drove her in with a sac fly, tying the game.
• After a pitching change for the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth, EMU took the lead for good. Umberger singled and stole second and advanced to third on Bailey's single. Gracie Conner, pinch running for Bailey, stole second and came in to score on Emerson Adkins' two-RBI triple. Rogers then singled in Adkins, giving EMU a 6-3 lead.
• The Royals would plate three more in the fifth on another RBI for Adkins, an RBI for Brake and a Cougar error that allowed Adkins to score. After allowing those three runs in the third, Rogers settled down and, along with some good defense, kept the Cougars off the board in the final four innings, securing her first collegiate win.

Statistical Leaders

Adkins: 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R

Hensley: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Rogers: 2-2, RBI, 2 R

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