HARRISONBURG, Va. – EMU Baseball opened up a four-game weekend home series on Saturday, hosting Penn State Behrend for a doubleheader at the friendly confines of Royals Field. It was an up-and-down day for the Diamond Royals, dropping game one before defeating the visiting Lions in game two.
Records: EMU 3-2 | Penn St. Behrend 1-1
Game One: PSU Behrend 6, EMU 1 (7 innings)
WP: Andrew Bredel (1-0)
LP:
Damen Tapscott (1-1)
Save: Jake Menendo (1)
Highlights
- The guests from Penn St. Behrend got off to a fast start in the first, pushing two runs on a fielder's choice and then an EMU throwing error. However, the host Royals got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame when Aidan Miller and Nick Arnold successfully pulled off a double steal. Miller then scored on a fielding error by the Lions' second baseman. EMU went to the second trailing 2-1.
- Unfortunately, EMU could not muster any more runs after the first inning. The Lions scored two runs each in the second and sixth innings to pull away for the win.
Statistical Leaders
Arnold: 1-for-3
Daniel McGinnis: 1-for-3
Tapscott: 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 Ks
Game Two: EMU 14, PSU Behrend 6
WP: -
Josh Gjormand (1-0)
LP: - Ethan Tinker (0-1)
Save: N/A
Highlights
- After the Lions got one run across in the top of the first, the Royals roared to life. Dalton Rocke kickstarted EMU offensively by smashing a three run home-run to centerfield, bestowing a 3-1 lead on the Royals after the first inning.
- The Diamond Royals tacked on two more runs in the second innings, courtesy of a sac fly by Chris Polymeropoulos and an RBI double from Miller.
- Penn St. Behrend drew to within three at 5-2 in the top of the third, but EMU countered with their biggest frame yet, plating four runs in the bottom of the third. Dylan Hall belted a 2-RBI triple to right center, brining home Erik Wilkinson and McGinnis. Trevor Selph added a double to send Hall to home plate, and then Selph scored himself on a Polymeropoulos base hit. That put the score at EMU 9, PSU Behrend 2 after three innings.
- Following two runs by PSU Behrend in the top of the fourth, the Royals again had an answer at the bottom of the frame. Wilkinson slapped a single to right center, allowing Rocke and McGinnis to touch home. Polymeropoulos drew a bases loaded walk to score Wilkinson. The Royals now led the Lions 12-4 through four innings.
- The Lions got one run back in the sixth, but once again, the Royals responded in the bottom of the seventh when Arnold singled through the left side to bring in Polymeropoulos.
- Both sides scored a run each in the eighth, with EMU's run coming on a Lions wild pitch that opened the door for Hall to score.
- Nash Withers came in to pitch the ninth inning, shutting out the Lions lineup to seal the victory for the Royals.
Statistical Leaders
Rocke: 1-for-5, 2 runs, HR (1), 3 RBIs
Wilkinson: 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 2B
Polymeropoulos: 2-for-2, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, 2 BBs
Hall: 1-for-2, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 3B
J. Gjormand: 6.0 IP, 5 ERs, 3 Ks
Andrew Ritterskamp/Withers: 1.0 IP, 0 ER each
What's Next
The Royals will be right back at it tomorrow, Sunday, March 2, for two seven-inning games at home against Penn St. Behrend. First pitch of game one from Royals Field is set for 12 p.m.
