STAUNTON, Va. (EMU Athletics) – EMU made the short trip south on Tuesday, heading to Staunton for two games against Mary Baldwin.

In the opener, seven innings wasn’t enough, as MBU pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth to walk off, 2-1. Game two saw more offense, as the teams combined for 16 hits and 12 runs, with EMU picking up an 8-4 win.

EMU vs Mary Baldwin – Game One

Records: EMU 5-5-1, 0-0 ODAC | Mary Baldwin 8-3, 0-0 USA South

WP: Reagan Frazier (4-0)
LP: Natalye Graham (2-4)

Highlights

First Inning
• Grace Fravel’s bat stayed hot as she led off with a double, followed by a single from Allana Overby. Fravel was put out at third after a fielder’s choice by Meaghan Dean, but Destiny Jones came through with a base hit, loading the bases. Sydney Orndorff’s RBI fielder’s choice plated Overby, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead.
• Graham worked around a pair of walks in the first to keep MBU off the board and maintain a 1-0 EMU lead.
Sixth Inning
• Despite base hits from both teams, neither team was able to add anything in the run column in the second through fifth innings. After EMU went down in order in the top of the sixth, Mary Baldwin scratched across a run in their half, using a single, a sac bunt and an RBI double, to tie things at one apiece.
Eighth Inning
• Neither team pushed across a run in the seventh, sending the game to extra innings. With a runner starting at second, Overby picked up a one-out single, moving Brooke Morris to third. But back-to-back ground outs to the shortstop kept the Royals at just one run.
• A sac bunt pushed MBU’s runner from second to third, and she came in to score two batters later, as the Fighting Squirrels picked up the walkoff win.
Statistical Leaders
Graham: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Fravel: 2-4, 2B
Overby: 2-4, R

EMU vs Mary Baldwin – Game Two

Records: EMU 6-5-1, 0-0 ODAC | Mary Baldwin 8-4, 0-0 USA South

WP: Haley Lambert (3-0)
LP: Taylor Schreck (0-4)

Highlights

Third Inning
• Both pitchers allowed base runners in the first two innings, but neither team was able to get on the board. That changed in the third, as EMU struck for a pair as Morris singled to start the top of the third. She moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on Fravel’s base hit. Overby’s sac bunt RBI scored Morris and sent Fravel to second with just one out.
• Fravel scooted to third on a wild pitch and came in to score on an RBI ground out from Dean, for a 2-0 lead.
• Mary Baldwin tied things in their half of the third with a walk and two singles, plating a pair for a 2-2 tie.
Fourth Inning
• The Fighting Squirrels took a lead in the fourth after a single, walk and an error loaded the bases, followed by an RBI single for a 4-3 lead.
Fifth Inning
• The Royals bats came to life in the top of the fifth, as Morris led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Fravel drove in Morris with an RBI base hit and then she advanced to third when Overby reached on an error.
• After Overby stole second, putting runners on second and third with no outs, Dean drove them both in with a base hit, for a 5-3 lead. Aspen Jones ran for Dean, and eventually scored on a single and an error, giving EMU a 6-3 advantage.
Sixth Inning
• EMU finished its scoring with two in the sixth, as Janie Young reached base on an error and came in to score on Fravel’s two-run home run, her third hit of the day.
• An error scored a run for Mary Baldwin, but Lambert got a strike out to end the threat. EMU put runners on in the seventh with a fielder’s choice and an Emerson Adkins base hit, but couldn’t add to their lead. It didn’t matter, however, as Lambert worked around a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the final batter to secure the win.

Statistical Leaders
Fravel: 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Lambert: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
Morris: 2-3, 2 R

What’s Next
EMU will be back on the diamond on Sunday, as they return home for a doubleheader against Pitt-Bradford. First pitch of game one is set for 12 pm.

— EMU Athletics —