HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – On a gorgeous day for baseball in the Shenandoah Valley, the EMU Baseball team welcomed Virginia Wesleyan, and ODAC rival from the other side of the state, to Royals Field. The Royals hoped to end their losing streak but instead it was the Marlins who took both games of the Saturday doubleheader.

Records: EMU 10-20, 1-13 ODAC | Virginia Wesleyan 16-13, 7-6 ODAC

Game One: Virginia Wesleyan 14, EMU 2 (7 innings)
WP: Brandon Drewry (4-3)
LP: Andrew Ritterskamp (2-1)

Highlights
• The Marlins swam out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Royals did get one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Daniel McGinnis sent a sacrifice fly to center field, opening the door for Aidan Miller to tag up and score to make it a 3-1 game in favor of the visitors.
• Virginia Wesleyan took firm control of game one from there, adding four runs in the third inning and seven runs in the fifth inning to pull away. The Royals did tack on one run in the bottom of the sixth when Noah Sanderson reached home on a wild pitch.

Statistical Leaders
Miller, 2-for-2, R
McGinnis: 0-for-2, RBI
Hadikell Bruno, Dalton Rocke: 1 hit each

Game Two: Virginia Wesleyan 7, EMU 3
WP: Chase Depalma (3-4)
LP: Jack Hinton (1-1)
S: Mason Sylvest (1)

Highlights
• Unlike game one, it was the Royals who struck first in game two. In the bottom of the first, Trevor Selph belted a triple to right field, bringing in both Erik Wilkinson and Michael Duncan to give EMU the 2-0 lead.
• Virginia Wesleyan immediately got one of those runs back in the second inning and then tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning.
• The moment of the game came in the top of the seventh when Virginia Wesleyan took a 5-2 lead on a three-run home run by Nick Valentin.
• EMU edged closer with a run in the bottom of the eighth when McGinnis hit his second sac fly of the day to send Miller home.
• However, the Diamond Royals would get no closer as the Marlins scored two runs in the top of the ninth and closed the door in the bottom half of the inning to clinch the doubleheader sweep of EMU.

Statistical Leaders
Miller: 3-for-4, 2B, R
Selph: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBIs
Luke Tilley: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 Ks

What’s Next
The Diamond Royals will be back at home this coming Wednesday, April 15, when they host Bridgewater in the second game of the Route 42 Rivalry this season. First pitch from Royals Field is set for 4 p.m.

— EMU Athletics —