RALEIGH, NC – The Royals had a tall task in front of them on Friday, as they kicked off the Triangle Softball Classic against #25 Salisbury and #6 Rowan.
In the opener, the Sea Gulls scored in four of five innings, holding EMU scoreless and picking up a 13-0 five-inning win. In game two, the Royals got on the board, but it wasn't enough as Rowan pulled away for an 11-1 five-inning win.
EMU vs #25 Salisbury
Records: EMU 0-3, 0-0 ODAC | Salisbury 3-2, 0-0 C2C
WP: Madison McGinnis (1-1)
LP: Jordan Lane (0-2)
Highlights
First Inning
- Salisbury got on the board in the top of the first, using back-to-back singles and a Royals error, to take a 1-0 lead. Lane then worked around a double and a single, holding the Gulls to just one run in the frame.
- In the Royals half of the first, Aliza Judd led off with a single, but after a fly out, was doubled up on a 5-4-3 double play that ended the inning.
Second Inning
- SU broke the game open in the second, plating six runs on five hits and an error, before Lane got a strikeout to strand runners on second and third.
- EMU had two runners on themselves in the bottom of the second, after Meaghan Dean walked and Braxten Jones singled to left, but once again, a double play erased any momentum EMU was gaining and kept the Royals off the board.
Third, Fourth and Fifth Innings
- The Sea Gulls used four hits to plate six runs in the third and fourth innings, as Lane was pulled in the fourth for Brooke Morris. After a pair of runs, Morris got a ground out and a strikeout to end the fourth.
- EMU wasn't able to push any runs across, despite putting runners on in each of the final three innings. A ground out to short wrapped up the fifth inning and gave Salisbury the mercy-rule win.
Statistical Leaders
Judd: 1-2, BB
B. Jones: 1-2
Payton Keesee: 1-2
Lane: 3.1 IP, 11 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO
EMU vs #6 Rowan
Records: EMU 0-4, 0-0 ODAC | Rowan 1-0, 0-0 NJAC
WP: Emily McCutcheon (1-0)
LP: Dean (0-2)
Highlights
Second Inning
- After neither team got a run in the first, the Royals struck first in the second. Hannah Johnston reached on an error and moved to second on B. Jones' single. Olivia Martin reached on a fielder's choice, which moved Johnston and Jones up, and Johnston came in to score after the Prof conceded a run on a 3-6 double play. Keesee walked to put runners on first and third, but a ground out ended the frame.
- Rowan showed their fire power, getting to Dean in the second with five runs on four hits and two EMU errors, taking a 5-1 lead after two.
Third Inning
- EMU went down in order in the third, bringing the Profs back to the plate. They were able to extend their lead with six more runs on five hits and an error, pushing their lead to 11-1.
Fourth and Fifth Innings
- EMU was able to get a runner on in the fifth, after Arleigh Mason walked and Delaney Via and Judd both reached on fielder's choices. But a strikeout ended the inning, and the game, as Rowan picked up the win.
Statistical Leaders
Destiny Jones: 1-2
B. Jones: 1-2
Johnston: 0-2, R
Dean: 3.0 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 1 BB
What's Next
EMU won't have long to shake these losses off, as they're back on the field on Saturday for two more games at the Triangle Classic. They'll start the day with Muhlenberg at 11:00 am before finishing the day with Marymount at 4:00 pm.
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