GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Royals took a day off from ODAC play to head north to PA for a showdown against Messiah University.

It was an offensive slugfest, with the teams combining for 21 runs and 22 hits. Unfortunately for the Royals, they came out on the wrong end of that slugfest, as Messiah picked up the 15-6 win.

Records: EMU 10-18, 1-11 ODAC | Messiah 18-9, 11-1 MAC Commonwealth

WP: Walker Cloudt (1-0)
LP: Jackson Hull (0-2)

Highlights

First Inning

• EMU picked up a two-out triple from Erik Wilkinson, but he was stranded at third after a ground out, bringing the Falcons to the plate.
• Messiah's leadoff man sent the third pitch of the at-bat from Hull over the right-center fence, giving MU a 1-0 lead. Hull settled down and got out of the inning with no further damage.

Second and Third Innings

• In the bottom of the second, a single and back-to-back HBP loaded the bases, before a fielder's choice plated another run for a 2-0 Falcons lead. The next batter, the Messiah leadoff, tripled to left scoring two, and then came in to score on a wild pitch, giving Messiah a 4-0 lead.
• A one-out walk came around to score in the bottom of the third, extending Messiah's lead to 5-0.

Fourth Inning

• EMU started chipping away at the Falcons lead in the top of the fourth. Hadikell Bruno singled and came in to score on a grounder that was misplayed by the second baseman off the bat of Noah Sanderson.

Sixth Inning

• Ben Knutsson came on in relief in the bottom of the fourth and kept Messiah off the board in the fourth and fifth, giving up just one hit.
• In the top of the sixth, EMU put together some offense, cutting into MU's lead. Wilkinson led off with a walk and moved to third on Michael Duncan's double to right center. Bruno's infield single plated Wilkinson, cutting EMU's deficit to four.
• Dalton Rocke followed that up with a single up the middle and advancing to second on the throw, scoring Duncan and putting Bruno on third. Sanderson flied out to left for a sac fly RBI, plating Duncan and pulling the Royals within two, 6-4.
• The Falcons got three of those runs right back with a pair of hits and an error, before Colby Massengill spelled Knutsson and stranded a runner on first.

Seventh Inning

• EMU once again answered Messiah's offensive flourish with one of their own. After Daniel McGinnis doubled to lead off the seventh, he came in to score on Wilkinson's RBI single. A single from Duncan and a sac bunt from Bruno put runners on second and third with one out and Rocke's sac fly scored another, bringing the Royals within three, 9-6.
• But just like in the sixth, Messiah was able to continue pushing runs across, plating two on just one hit, but a pair of EMU errors, before Colby Eidson came in to get the final out with Messiah leading 11-6 after seven.

Eighth and Ninth Innings

• After EMU went scoreless in the top of the eighth, Messiah added to their lead, scoring four runs in the inning off Eidson, until Andrew Wise came on to get the final two outs.
• In the top of the ninth, Bruno picked up his third hit of the day with a one out single through the left side. He advanced to second on an error and Sanderson walked, putting Royals on first and second. But a strikeout ended the game with Messiah securing the win.

Statistical Leaders
Bruno: 3-4, RBI, 2 R
Wilkinson: 2-4, 3B, RBI, 2 R
Rocke: 1-4, 2 RBI, SB

What's Next
EMU is back at home on Saturday when the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan come to town for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for noon. 

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