HARRISONBURG, Va. – EMU Baseball rode a three-game winning streak into Tuesday's ODAC matchup with Shenandoah at Royals Field. But once the game started, the Hornets demonstrated why they are ranked third in the nation by D3Baseball.com, stinging the Royals by the final score of 12-4.

First-year designated hitter Daniel McGinnis continued to stay hot at the plate, going 4-for-4 with an RBI on the afternoon.

Records: EMU 7-12, 4-4 ODAC | Shenandoah 17-3, 7-2 ODAC

WP: Ricky Snyder (2-2)
LP: Damen Tapscott (1-2)
Save: Joey Mitchell (1)

Highlights

• Both starting pitchers got through the first inning quickly, with a Nick Arnold double accounting for the only hit of the opening frame.
• The visiting Hornets lit up the scoreboard first thanks to a two-run home run to right centerfield by Pearce Bucher. Shenandoah then widened the lead with six runs in the top of the third, highlighted by a three-run homer from their second basemen Scott Wilson.
• The Royals cut into the deficit by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third. Aidan Miller singled through the left side to bring in Arnold, followed closely by a McGinnis base hit and a Matthew Harding double that brought in one run apiece. That rally drew the Royals within five at 8-3.
• EMU kept the comeback attempt going in the fifth inning, tallying one more run when Harding grounded into a double play but Miller managed to cross home plate. That made the score Shenandoah 8, EMU 4 through five innings.
• Sadly, that is as close as the Royals would get as the Hornets added one run in the eighth and three more runs in the ninth to pull away for the road win.

Statistical Leaders
McGinnis: 4-for-4, 1 RBI
Miller: 2-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Harding: 3-for-4, 1 RBI

What's Next
EMU Baseball will go from one team of Hornets to another when they host defending national champions Lynchburg for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30. First pitch for game one is set for 12 p.m.