Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 SALEM, Va. – It was a day later than anticipated, but the Diamond Royals kicked off ODAC play on Sunday, taking on Roanoke in a road double header.
The Maroons used a five-spot in the sixth inning of game one, to pick up an 8-2 win. In game two, Roanoke scored in six of their eight offensive innings en route to a 12-3 victory.
EMU vs Roanoke – Game One
Records: EMU 3-5, 0-1 ODAC | Roanoke 5-8, 1-0 ODAC
WP: Thomas Burgess (1-0)
LP: Keenan Fulwood (0-2)
Highlights
- Both pitchers were dealing early, giving up just one hit each in the first two innings. In the third, a pair of singles put runners on first and second, but Fulwood induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.
- The first three Maroons reached in the fifth, loading the bases, before a sac fly gave Roanoke a 1-0 lead. But once again, Fulwood stranded runners in scoring position to keep the Royals deficit at one. Roanoke added five runs in the sixth, using a solo homerun and a grandslam to take a 6-0 lead.
- EMU was able to scratch across a run in the seventh when Ethan Spraker singled, stole second and came in to score on Erik Wilkinson's RBI single to left. They added another run in the eighth when Aidan Miller led off with a double, Alex Gulisano's base hit moved him to third and he came in to score off the bat of Dylan Hall.
- Roanoke added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh and eighth, respectively, and Burgess worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to Wilkinson to finish the complete game.
Statistical Leaders
Miller: 1-3, 2B, R
Wilkinson: 1-3, RBI
Gulisano: 2-3
EMU vs Roanoke – Game Two
Records: EMU 3-6, 0-2 ODAC | Roanoke 6-8, 2-0 ODAC
WP: Gardner Meeks (2-0)
LP: Colby Eidson (1-1)
Highlights
- Roanoke was able to take an early 1-0 off Eidson in game two, after a bases load hit-by-pitch drove in a run, but Eidson responded and got out of the jam with a big strikeout. The Maroons added four in the second, three off Eidson and one off Jack Dooley, who came in with the bases loaded to relieve Eidson.
- EMU started chipping away at the Maroons lead in the third, after Gulisano led off with a single and Dylan Hall reached on an error, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. Logan Mason sac bunted them to second and third and they both scored on Nick Arnold's single up the middle, cutting RC's lead to 5-2. The Maroons got one back in the bottom of the third on a solo homerun to left to send their lead to 6-2.
- The Royals loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but couldn't push anyone across. In the fifth, Spraker led off with a single, stole second and scored on Wilkinson's RBI single to left, cutting the deficit to three. Roanoke added two runs in their half of the fifth, along with three in the sixth and one more in the seventh, for their 12 total runs. Colby Massengill and Dylan McClellan held Roanoke to just two hits and one run over three innings, in relief.
Statistical Leaders
Arnold: 1-5, 2 RBI
Wilkinson: 1-3, RBI
Gulisano and Spraker: 2 hits apiece
What's Next
The Royals will be back on the field on Tuesday when they welcome Messiah to Harrisonburg in a makeup game from Feb. 27. First pitch against the Falcons is set for 3 pm.
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