HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals softball squad wrapped up its 2024 home ODAC schedule on Saturday, and celebrated a trio of seniors in the process. 

Taking on #7 Randolph Macon, the Royals dropped game one, 9-1, before falling in a heartbreaker 4-3, in game two. 

EMU vs #7 Randolph Macon - Game One

Records: EMU 9-17, 5-12 ODAC | Randoph Macon 25-2-2, 16-1 ODAC

WP: G. Ellis (15-0)
LP: Makayla Cyzick (7-12)

Highlights

• After the Yellow Jackets went down in order in the first, Samantha Hensley led off the bottom of the first with a single, but was stranded at first. Both teams went down in order in the second and RMC went down 1-2-3 in the third, before Carsen Brake led off the third with a base hit of her own. But a double play erased the runner before a flyout ended the inning. 
• Macon struck for four in the fourth, using five base hits and a walk to take a 4-0 lead. They added to their lead with a sac fly in the fifth, a solo homerun in the sixth and a three-run shot in the seventh. EMU got on the board in their half of the seventh when Cyzick drove a pitch over the left field fence for her second homerun of the season. But that would be it for the Royals as Ellis got a pair of flyouts to end the game. 

Statistical Leaders
Cyzick: 1-3, HR, RBI
Hensley, Brake: 1 hit each

EMU vs #7 Randolph Macon - Game Two

Records: EMU 9-18, 5-13 ODAC | Randoph Macon 26-2-2, 17-1 ODAC

WP: R. Baughan (11-2)
LP: Natalye Graham (2-5)
Sv: G. Ellis (1)

Highlights

• Graham worked out of a jam in the first inning as RMC had runners on first and third, but she got a groundout to herself to end the inning. The Royals struck first in their half of the first, as Hensley once again led off with a base hit. She moved to second on Destiny Jones' sac bunt, moved to third on Grace Fravel's groundout and came in to score after Cyzick struck out and reached on a wild pitch, giving EMU a 1-0 lead. 
• Neither team scored in the second, and Graham kept RMC off the board in the third. EMU added to their lead in the bottom of the third when Brooke Morris led off with a single, moved to third on Hensley's double, and scored when D. Jones reached on a fielding error. Fravel was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Braxten Jones drove in Hensley with a sac fly to right field, putting EMU ahead 3-0. 
• The Yellow Jackets started chipping away in the fourth, plating a pair of runs on a two-out single, before taking the lead in the fifth on a two-run homerun. EMU had a good chance in the sixth as Emerson Adkins and Taylor Umberger both singled, but after a strikeout, Ellis came into the circle to face Hensley in a power vs power matchup, and got Hensley to fly out to left. In the Royals half of the seventh, Fravel and Cyzick both reached base, putting the tying run at second, but the Macon center fielder made a great catch on a ball hit in the gap by B. Jones and doubled the runner off of second to end the game. 

Statistical Leaders
Hensley: 2-3, 2B, 2 R
Umberger: 2-3
Graham: 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

What's Next
EMU will play their home finale on Sunday when they take on Hood College in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 1 pm. Prior to the game, starting at noon, there will be a tree dedication to former EMU softball player, Sara Monger, who passed away in a car accident back in October.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU softball, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.