LEXINGTON, Va. – Looking to get back in the win column, the EMU Baseball team marched into Lexington to take on the Generals of Washington & Lee. The Royals' bats were quiet early, but they came to life in the later innings to hold off W&L for a 7-6 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak.
 
EMU got clutch relief pitching from Nash Withers, who held the Generals to two hits and one run in 3.1 innings of work, as well as Colby Eidson, who sat W&L down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the win.  
 
For the Diamond Royals, Tuesday's win is their third straight over W&L, going back to their season sweep of the Generals in 2024.

Records: EMU 7-11, 2-6 ODAC | Washington & Lee 7-9, 2-8 ODAC

WP: Dylan McClellan (2-0)
LP:  Evan Blair (1-4)
S: Colby Eidson (3)

Highlights

• The host Generals fired the opening volley with a run each in the first and second innings to take an early 2-0 advantage.
• The Royals broke through in the top of the fourth when Jett Cabanban reached home plate after drawing a walk, cutting the deficit in half at 2-1.
• Following a scoreless fifth frame, EMU snagged their first lead of the game at the top of the sixth. Chris Polymeropoulos reached on a fielder's choice, opening the door for Noah Sanderson to score. Daniel McGinnis then slapped an RBI single up the middle to bring Dylan Hall home, giving the Royals a 3-2 lead. W&L got a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth to deadlock things at 3-3 going to the seventh.
• Washington & Lee crept back out in front with one run in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 4-3 ball game in favor of the home team.
• EMU saved their best offense for crunch time, scoring four runs in the top of the eighth. Polymeropoulos got the scoring started with a two-RBI double to right center field, allowing Hall and Nick Arnold to touch home plate. Erik Wilkinson kept things going with a single to right field, bringing in Polymeropoulos to give the Royals a 6-4 lead. Dalton Rocke then drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run with a single through the left side to bring in Wilkinson. That put EMU up 7-4, but W&L did plate two in the bottom of the eighth to make it a tight 7-6 game going to the ninth.
• The Royals could not add insurance to their lead in the top of the ninth, but they would not need it. Eidson took the mound in the ninth and immediately struck out the first two Generals batters. Eidson then got Jonathan French to fly out to Rocke in right field to seal the deal for EMU.

 
Statistical Leaders
Polymeropoulos: 2-4, 2B, 1 run, 3 RBIs
Wilkinson: 3-4, 2B, 1 run, RBI
Rocke: 2-4, RBI
Withers: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER,
Eidson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 Ks

What's Next
The Diamond Royals will entertain Randolph Macon in a home ODAC doubleheader this Saturday, March 29. First pitch of game one versus the Yellow Jackets at Royals Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.