FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – EMU's Diamond Royals traveled from one burg to another on Wednesday, facing off against Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. It was an up-and-down game, with the Royals falling behind early before taking the lead in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, the Royals will return to Harrisonburg empty-handed after the Eagles rallied late to defeat EMU 10-9. For the Royals, it marks their fifth consecutive loss as they keep trying to find their form in the still young season.

First-year Daniel McGinnis stood out at the dish as the designated hitter, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Aidan Miller and Logan Mason also got three hits apiece for EMU.

Records: EMU 3-8 | Mary Washington 12-3

WP: Jackson Beale (1-0)
LP: Josh Rudd (0-1)
Save: N/A

Highlights

• The Eagles jumped on the Royals early, reeling off three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 3-0 lead.
• EMU chipped away at the deficit over the next few innings. In the top of the second, Ethan Spraker singled to left field and then stole second base. Two batters later, Miller brought Spraker home with a single up the middle to get the Royals within two at 3-1. Moving ahead to the fourth inning, Miller took advantage of a UMW wild pitch to reach home. Then, McGinnis hit a sacrifice fly to center field to send in Colin Troilo and tie the game at 3-3 through four innings.
• The Eagles edged back out front 4-3 with a sacrifice fly of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning, but then the Royals rolled to a six-run sixth inning. The scoring started with a Dylan Hall single that sent Troilo home. Then, the Eagles catcher let the ball get by him, opening the door for Jett Cabanban to score the go-ahead run. After Mason got hit by a pitch, Nick Arnold singled to left field to plate Hall. Two batters later, Erik Wilkinson brought in Mason on a fielder's choice. Miller then doubled down the left field line to score both Arnold and Wilkinson. That put EMU out front 9-4 in the middle of the sixth, and then the Eagles got one run back in the bottom half of the inning to make it 9-5 Royals through six.
• Following a scoreless seventh, the lead got away from the Royals in the bottom of the eighth when the Eagles scored five runs to fly back out front 10-9. EMU got two runners on base in the top of the ninth but failed to push the tying run across as UMW hung on for the win.

Statistical Leaders
McGinnis: 3-for-3, 1 RBI
Miller: 3-for-5, 1 run, 3 RBIs
Mason: 3-for-5, 1 run

What's Next
EMU Baseball will play its third game in as many days on Thursday, March 14 as they head back home to host Hamilton College. First pitch versus the Continentals is set for 3 p.m. at Royals Field.