BUENA VISTA, Va. – While most of the student body is on Spring Break, the softball team was putting in work, heading slightly south to take on Southern Virginia.

A game one gem in the circle from Maykala Cyzick paced the Royals, as they picked up a 5-0 win, before Sydney Orndorff's three-run homerun in the sixth gave EMU a 4-1 win in game two.

EMU vs Southern Virginia – Game One

Records: EMU 1-3, 0-0 ODAC | Southern Virginia 0-3, 0-0 USA South

WP: Cyzick (1-2)
LP: Chloe Persinger (0-1)

Highlights

• The Royals got on the board in the first inning when Samantha Hensley picked up a two-out single and then came around to score on Cyzick's RBI double, putting EMU ahead 1-0. Cyzick went 1-2-3 in the first, bringing the Royals back up to bat in the second.
• After a fly out, Orndorff drove a ball over the fence for her first homerun of the season and a 2-0 lead. EMU was able to load the bases with two outs in the second after Taylor Umberger singled, Janie Young walked and Destiny Jones singled, but no more runs came across as a line out ended the threat.
• SVU went hitless in the second and third, while EMU added to their lead with three in the fourth. With two outs, Umberger singled and came in to score on Young's RBI double. D. Jones followed that up with a two-run shot, her second of the season. Hensley doubled and then stole third, but was stranded on a strikeout.
• The Knights picked up their first two hits of the game with a pair of singles in the bottom of the fourth, but Cyzick picked up a strikeout and popout to end the inning and keep the shutout intact. EMU wasn't able to add any more runs, but Cyzick shut down the Knights, keeping them off the scoreboard and picking up the win.

Statistical Leaders
D. Jones: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
Hensley: 3-4, 2B, R, SB
Cyzick: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 7 K

EMU vs Southern Virginia – Game Two

Records: EMU 2-3, 0-0 ODAC | Southern Virginia 0-4, 0-0 USA South

WP: Cyzick (2-2)
LP: Arianna Hall (0-1)

Highlights

• The Royals were able to get runners on in both the first and second innings, but couldn't push a run across. SVU was able to pick up their first run of the afternoon after a leadoff single followed by a two-out triple. But Cyzick picked up a groundout to keep the score at 1-0.
• Both teams picked up hits in the third and fourth with nothing for either team in the fifth.
• EMU rallied in a big way in the sixth as D. Jones led off with a single and came around to score the tying run on Cyzick's RBI double. Emerson Adkins singled, putting runners on the corners but they wouldn't be there long as Orndorff cranked her second homerun of the day, giving EMU their first lead of game two, 4-1. The Knights were able to bring the tying run to the plate after a single and an error, but Cyzick induced a popout and a groundout to end the game.

Statistical Leaders
Orndorff: 3-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
Cyzick: 1-3, 2B, RBI, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER,
D. Jones: 2-3, R

What's Next
EMU will head south to wrap up their spring break, as they'll compete in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic, hosted by William Peace in Raleigh, North Carolina. They'll kick off the weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday, squaring off with Meredith College at 2:30 pm and wrapping up the day with Marymount at 5 pm.

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