HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals softball team kicked off the holiday weekend with an ODAC doubleheader, taking on Roanoke in the Maroons conference opener.

Roanoke scored multiple runs across four innings in game one, to pick up 14-4 five-inning win. Things didn't get much better in game two, as the Maroons   

EMU vs Roanoke – Game One

Records: EMU 4-8, 0-3 ODAC | Roanoke 8-5, 1-0 ODAC

WP: Makayla Cyzick (3-7)
LP: Maggie McCray (2-0)

Highlights

• Cyzick worked around a two-out hit in the first, striking out the cleanup batter to keep Roanoke off the board. In the bottom of the first, Destiny Jones singled up the middle, but the Maroons pitcher kept EMU off the board to keep the game scoreless.
• After a strikeout to start the second, Roanoke drew back-to-back walks, advanced to second and third on wild pitches and both came in to score on a single up the middle giving Roanoke a 2-0 lead. RC was able to extend their lead with two more runs in the third, but Taylor Umberger threw out a runner at the plate to keep the score at 4-0.
• The Royals were able to get one back in the third after D. Jones walked, moved to second on Grace Fravel's fielder's choice and came in to score on Cyzick's RBI single. EMU then loaded the bases, but a strikeout ended the threat, keeping the score at 4-1.
• Roanoke pushed their lead to six with three, but EMU was able to get those right back in the bottom of the fourth. Kendyll Eddins singled with one out and D. Jones reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners on first and second. They weren't there long as Grace Fravel drove a pitch over the right field wall to cut the score to 7-4.
• Unfortunately for EMU, Roanoke was able to push across seven runs in the fifth, adding four against new pitcher Brooke Morris, and three more against Cyzick. Caroline Stringer singled in the bottom of the fifth but was left at first as the game ended on an EMU flyout.

Statistical Leaders
Fravel: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI
Cyzick: 1-3, RBI

EMU vs Roanoke – Game Two

Records: EMU 4-9, 0-4 ODAC | Roanoke 9-5, 2-0 ODAC

WP: Lindsay Gedro (3-3)
LP: Natalye Graham (1-1)

Highlights

• The Roanoke bats picked up in game two where they left off in game one, picking up a pair of runs in each of the first two innings for a 4-0 lead. EMU put runners on second and third in the first, after D. Jones and Fravel both reached base, but a strikeout ended the threat. 
• Graham kept the Roanoke batters off balance in the third and fourth, but they were able to scratch across a run in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-0. Brooke Morris walked to lead off the Royals half of the fifth and got to third on a sac bunt and a wild pitch, but was left there as a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning. 
• The Maroons broke the game open in the sixth, as they used three hits, two walks and a wild pitch to plate five runs and take a 10-0 lead. Braxten Jones got on base in the bottom of the sixth with EMU's first hit, but a strikeout ended the game for EMU. 

Statistical Leaders
B. Jones: 1-3

What's Next
EMU will be back in action next Tuesday when they head south down Route 42 to take on Bridgewater in an ODAC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 3 pm.

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