SWEET BRIAR, Va. – EMU kicked off ODAC play on Saturday, heading to Sweet Briar for a doubleheader with the Vixens.

In game one, EMU's offense exploded for five runs in the sixth inning and Natalye Graham held the Sweet Briar offense to just four hits and two runs, en route to a 7-2 win. In game two, EMU's offense had a hard time stringing together hits, as they were shutout by SBC, 3-0. 

EMU vs Sweet Briar – Game One

Records: EMU 8-6-1, 1-0 ODAC | Sweet Briar 11-6, 0-3 ODAC

WP: Graham: (4-4)
LP: Alyssa O'Quinn (3-2)

Highlights

Second Inning

• Neither team scored a run in the first, but in the second, EMU struck first, taking the lead. Braxten Jones singled with two outs, followed by another single from Maggie Mayhew. Brooke Morris doubled to left, scoring B. Jones for a 1-0 lead.
• Sweet Briar got it right back in their half of the second, reaching on an error and moving to second on a sac bunt and came around to score on an error, tying things at one.

Third Inning

• The Vixens pulled ahead in their half of the third, using a lead off single, a sac bunt, a stolen base and an RBI sac bunt, to take a 2-1 lead.

Fourth Inning

• The SBC lead was short lived, as EMU stormed back to tie things at two in the top of the fourth. B. Jones led off with a single, moved to second on Mayhew's sac bunt and came in to score on Grace Fravel's RBI double.

Sixth and Seventh Innings

• Graham kept the Vixens off the board in the fourth and fifth, giving EMU's offense a chance to take the lead, which they did in the top of the sixth…all with two outs. Morris singled, stole second and scored on Fravel's single to center.
• Overby reached on an error, advancing all the way to third as Fravel crossed the plate for a 4-2 lead. Meaghan Dean singled in Overby for a 5-2 lead, before coming in to score herself on a two-run bomb by Destiny Jones, pushing EMU's lead to 7-2.
• That would be all the run support Graham would need, as she allowed just two base runners over the final two innings, both of which reached via EMU error. She got a fly out to end the game, securing the Royals win.

Statistical Leaders
D. Jones: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
Fravel: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Graham: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 8 K

EMU vs Sweet Briar – Game Two

Records: EMU 8-7-1, 1-1 ODAC | Sweet Briar 12-6, 1-3 ODAC  

WP: Abi Sawyers (3-1)
LP: Haley Lambert (4-1)

Highlights

Third Inning

• EMU picked up a hit in the second, while Sweet Briar had a single each in the first and second, but neither team was able to push any runs across. In the Vixens half of the third, SBC used a single, HBP, stolen base and a double to plate a pair of runs, all with two outs, for a 2-0 lead. 

Fifth Inning

• The Royals best chance of the game came in the fifth, as Aspen Jones singled, followed by a base hit from Mayhew, that advanced A. Jones to third while Mayhew got to second on the throw. But a strike out and a fly out ended the EMU threat, keeping Sweet Briar ahead by two. 

Sixth Inning

• The Vixens picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, plating a run with a single and a double. A. Jones was able to pick up a one-out single in the top of the seventh, but a fly out and a ground out by the Royals wrapped up the win for Sweet Briar. 

Statistical Leaders
A. Jones: 2-3
Dean: 2-3
Lambert: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 K

What's Next
EMU will wrap up non-conference play on Tuesday, when they head to Fredericksburg to take on Mary Washington in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 3 pm. 

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