HARRISONBURG, Va. – On a blustery but beautiful spring Saturday, the Royals softball team welcomed in Sweet Briar for an ODAC showdown; the first meeting between the two squads since 2017.
In the opening game, EMU picked up runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings enroute to a 6-2 win. In game two, Sweet Briar took a two-run lead, but the Royals responded with seven runs in the fifth, and picked up a 9-4 win.
EMU vs Sweet Briar – Game One
Records: EMU 8-14, 4-9 ODAC | Sweet Briar 10-18, 3-12 ODAC
WP: Makayla Cyzick (6-10)
LP: A. Taylor (5-10)
Highlights
- Cyzick sat the Vixens down in order in the first three innings, keeping Sweet Briar off the board. After going hitless in the first two innings, EMU was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Brooke Morris laid down a beautiful bunt and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Grace Fravel came up with two outs and doubled to left-center, plating Morris. Destiny Jones followed that up, reaching on an error by the centerfielder, scoring Fravel and giving the Royals a 2-0 lead.
- After SBC went down 1-2-3 in the fourth, the Royals were able to add to their lead when Taylor Umberger reached on a two-out single, moved to second after a Vixens fielding error and came in to score on Morris' RBI double.
- The Vixens picked up their first hit in the top of the fifth and were able to plate a pair of runs, to cut EMU's lead to one, 3-2. But EMU responded in their half of the fifth, as D. Jones doubled to lead off, moved to third on a wild pitch and came in to score on B. Jones' sac bunt. Then, with runners first and second, Umberger singled up the middle scoring a run and giving the Royals a 5-2 lead. A walk loaded the bases, but a flyout ended the threat.
- EMU finished up their scoring in the bottom of the sixth when D. Jones singled and came in to score on an RBI double from Orndorff, putting EMU ahead 6-2. Cyzick worked around a leadoff bloop single to shut Sweet Briar down in the seventh to secure the win.
Statistical Leaders
Morris: 2-3, 2B, RBI, R
Cyzick: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K
D. Jones, Umberger: 4-7, 2B, RBI, 3 R
EMU vs Sweet Briar – Game Two
Records: EMU 9-14, 5-9 ODAC | Sweet Briar 10-19, 3-13 ODAC
WP: Cyzick (7-10)
LP: A. O'Quinn (3-5)
Highlights
- After giving up a single and a HBP, Graham got the next two batters to ground out and fly out to keep the game scoreless. That didn't last long as Hensley took the first pitch she saw and deposited it over the right field fence for a 1-0 EMU lead. The Royals added to their lead in the second when Hensley reached on an error with B. Jones scoring for a 2-0 lead.
- The Vixens were able to chip into the Royals lead in the third, after a walk, sac bunt and a single, but Graham got out of the jam with a big strikeout to keep EMU in the lead. But it was short lived as Sweet Briar pulled ahead in the fourth after a bases loaded double scored all three runners, putting the Vixens on top, 4-2.
- The EMU bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs on six hits, to take the lead. Hensley and Morris both singled and Cyzick drove in Hensley to pull EMU within one. Morris came into tie things at four on Fravel's single up the middle. Kendyll Eddins and Gracie Conner, pinch running for Cyzick and Fravel, both scored on RBI from D. Jones and Orndorff. The final runs were scored on a single from B. Jones, a wild pitch and another Hensley single. Cyzick, who came in to pitch in the top of the fifth, gave up just a hit over the final three innings, to secure the Royals win
Statistical Leaders
Hensley: 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
B. Jones: 2-3, RBI, 2 R
Cyzick: 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
What's Next
EMU will be back on the diamond on Tuesday when they welcome in Shenandoah University for a big ODAC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 3 pm.
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