DANVILLE, Va. (EMU Athletics) – EMU headed south to Danville on Sunday, looking to end the weekend on a high note. And they did just that.

After falling to Averett 8-0 in game one, the Royals rebounded in game two with Jordan Lane spinning a gem as EMU picked up its first ODAC win of the season, 4-1.

EMU vs Averett – Game One

Records: EMU 4-15, 0-7 ODAC | Averett 16-7, 3-2 ODAC

WP: Hannah Zabik (7-2)
LP: Lane (0-5)

Highlights

First Inning
• EMU got some things going to lead off the game, as Aliza Judd and Braxten Jones both singled, putting runners on first and second. But Zabik was able to sandwich a fly out between a pair of strikeouts to end the Royals threat.
Third and Fourth Innings
• Neither team was able to break the tie until the bottom of the fifth. After a walk and a sac bunt, an RBI double to center plated a run, giving Averett a 1-0 lead.
• In the top of the fourth, the Royals once again put runners on first and second, but Zabik got out of the jam and keep EMU off the board and bring their bats back to the plate. They were able to break the game open in the bottom of the fourth, putting together five runs on four hits and pushing their lead to 6-1.
Fifth Inning
• B. Jones collected her second hit of the day in the frame, but once again was left out on the base paths.
• Averett was able to walk it off in the bottom half of the inning, as a walk, single and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, followed by an RBI single and an error that scored the eighth and final run of the game.

Statistical Leaders
B. Jones: 2-3
Judd and Keesee: One hit apiece

EMU vs Averett – Game Two

Records: EMU 5-15, 1-7 ODAC | Averett 16-8, 3-3 ODAC

WP: Lane (1-5)
LP: Sarah Lysohir (0-2)

Highlights

First Through Third Innings
• B. Jones stayed hot, picking up a one-out single, followed by a walk from Destiny Jones. Both advanced on a wild pitch and then came around to score on Hannah Johnston’s two-RBI single up the middle, giving EMU a 2-0 lead.
• The Cougars were able to get one of those runs back, scratching across a run on two walks and a hit-by-pitch from Haley Lambert, who started game two. But, with the bases loaded, Lambert got back-to-back pop outs to limit the damage to one.
• Lane came in to pitch for Lambert in the second and, after sitting the Cougars down in order in B2, gave up her first hit of the game in the bottom of the third. After a stolen base put a runner at third, Lane got a fly out to end the frame.
Fourth Through Seventh Innings
• After both teams went scoreless in the second and third, EMU was able to tack on a pair of insurance runs in the fourth. Payton Keesee singled and Aliza Judd doubled, putting two in scoring position. B. Jones’ RBI grounder to first scored Keesee and one batter later, D. Jones singled up the middle scoring Judd, and extending EMU’s lead to 4-1.
• Those four runs would be all that Lane needed, as she didn’t give up a hit over the final four innings, sitting the Cougars down in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth and allowing one baserunner to reach on an error in the seventh, to secure her first collegiate win.

Statistical Leaders
Johnston: 2-4, 2 RBI
Judd: 2-2, 2B, R
Lane: 6.0 IP, 0 R 1 H, 1 SO

What’s Next
EMU is off until Thursday, when they return to the field to take on Mary Washington in their home non-conference finale. First pitch of game one against the Eagles is set for 3:00 pm.

— EMU Athletics —