HARRISONBURG, Va. – The EMU Baseball team capped off a busy week of games with an ODAC doubleheader, playing host to Virginia Wesleyan at Royals Field on Saturday.
There was no shortage of runs between the two teams, as the hometown Royals won game one by a final of 11-8 while the visiting Marlins took game two by a score of 17-11.
Records: EMU 4-10, 1-3 ODAC | Va. Wesleyan 10-7, 3-1 ODAC
Game 1 – EMU 11, Va. Wesleyan 8
WP:
Zach Williams (1-0)
LP: Nick Beatty (2-1)
Save: N/A
Highlights
- The Marlins swam out to an early 6-0 lead thorough three innings, but then the Royals cut the deficit in half with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. First, Dylan Hall scored off of an Ethan Spraker sacrifice fly to center field. Two batters later, Alex Gulisano singled up the middle to bring home Nick Arnold and Logan Mason, making the score 6-3 through four innings.
- After one VWU run in the top of the sixth, the Royals' bats came alive with five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Erik Wilkinson singled to center field to plate Spraker. After a Matt Harding walk to load up the bases, Daniel McGinnis belted a grand slam beyond the fence in right field to give EMU its first lead of the day at 8-7.
- The Marlins tied the game at 8-8 in the top of the seventh, but it was the Royals' time to shine in the bottom of the eighth. It all started with Harding double to left field that allowed Gulisano to score. Later on, with the bases loaded, a VWU wild pitch gave Harding an opening to reach home. Logan Mason then hit into a fielder's choice, bringing home McGinnis. The three-run eighth put EMU out front 11-8.
- Williams locked down the Marlin lineup in the top of the ninth to secure the Royal victory.
Statistical Leaders
McGinnis: 1-for-4, HR (1), 4 RBIs
Gulisano: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs
Williams: 2.0 IP, 2 Ks, 1 H, 0 ER
Game 2 – Va. Wesleyan 17, EMU 11
WP: Tavon Williams (1-0)
LP:
Josh Rudd (0-2)
Save: N/A
Highlights
- Virginia Wesleyan stuck first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but then EMU countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Arnold doubled to left center, bringing in both Gulisano and Hall. Arnold got to home plate himself following a Spraker double down the left field line, putting the Royals ahead 3-2 after one inning.
- The runs kept coming for the Royals in the second. After VWU tied things at 3-3, EMU exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning. Arnold smacked a triple to right center, clearing the loaded bases for three Royal runs. That brought up Spraker, who sent the ball sailing over the left field fence for a two-run home run and a 8-3 EMU lead.
- The Marlins drew within two in the top of the third, but the Royals again had an answer with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Arnold singled to left field to plate Harding, followed by Spraker hitting into a fielder's choice, opening the door for Hall to touch home plate. EMU went into the fourth inning up 10-6 on VWU.
- Unfortunately, it was almost all Marlins the rest of the way, outscoring the Royals 11-1 from the fourth inning to the end of the game. Harding hammered a solo home run in the eighth inning, but that was all the scoring EMU could muster in the late going.
Statistical Leaders
Arnold: 3-for-4, 2 runs, 6 RBIs
Spraker: 4-for-5, HR (1), 4 RBIs
Harding: 2-for-3, HR (2), 1 RBI
What's Next
EMU Baseball stays home on Tuesday, March 19 for a non-conference matchup with Mary Washington. First pitch versus the Eagles is set for 3 p.m.
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