LEXINGTON, Va. – EMU Baseball marched south down I-81 for its second showdown of the season with Washington & Lee. The Royals sent the Generals into full retreat, winning 9-0 thanks to a superb pitching performance from Damen Tapscott and an eight-run sixth inning.

Tapscott pitched a complete game shutout for EMU, allowing no runs, striking out three batters, and limiting the Generals to eight hits. At the plate, Alex Gulisano, Nick Arnold, Erik Wilkinson, and Logan Mason all got multiple hits on the day, with Wilkinson tallying three hits.

Records: EMU 9-16, 6-8 ODAC | W&L 13-14, 7-10 ODAC

WP: Tapscott (2-3)
LP: John Benner (2-3)
Save: N/A

Highlights

• EMU commenced the scoring in the top of the first when Arnold singled through the right side. The hit advanced Gulisano to third, who then advanced to home on a fielding error by the W&L right fielder, putting the Royals out front 1-0.
• The two teams exchanged scoreless innings from the second through the fifth innings, as Tapscott and Benner kept both lineups largely under wraps.
• The Royals broke the game wide open with eight runs in the top of the sixth. It started with an Aidan Miller single to left field, with Ethan Spraker scoring on another error by the Generals. Miller then got home himself thanks to a Matt Harding base hit to right center. Wilkinson kept the assembly line going by singling through the left side to bring in Harding. Mason then belted a 2-RBI double to left center, plating both Wilkinson and Daniel McGinnis. Gulisano added an extra-base hit of his own, tripling to left center to score Mason and Dylan Hall. Arnold put the cherry on top of the Royals' rally with a base hit to left field, allowing Gulisano to touch home.
• The 9-0 lead proved to be more than enough as Tapscott and the Royals fielding took over to shut the Generals the rest of the way.
• The eight runs scored in the sixth marks the most for the Royals in a single inning this season.
• This is EMU's first season sweep of W&L since they beat the Generals twice in 2019. 
• Tapscott's outing marks the first complete game shutout for the Royals since Daniel Stanley led EMU to a 7-0 win at Hampden-Sydney on March 23, 2013. 

Statistical Leaders
Tapscott: 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Ks
Wilkinson: 3-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
Gulisano, Arnold, Mason: 2 hits and 2 RBIs each

What's Next
The EMU Baseball team will not have much time to celebrate as they host Mary Baldwin in a non-conference game at Royals Field on Wednesday, April 10. First pitch against the Fighting Squirrels is set for 4 p.m.