LYNCHBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – It was feast and famine on Sunday for the Royals offense in a doubleheader at Randolph College.

In game one, EMU’s offense feasted, using 11 hits to plate 11 runs in an 11-5 win. Famine was the name of the game in game two, as Randolph starting pitcher Rylee Humble, along with strong defense from the WildCats, held EMU scoreless in a 3-0 Royals loss.

EMU at Randolph – Game One

Records: EMU 6-19, 2-9 ODAC | Randolph 2-23, 0-11 ODAC

WP: Haley Lambert (1-3)
LP: Austyn Moran (0-10)

Highlights

First Inning
• The Royals got on the board in the top of the first, pushing across three runs early on. Braxten Jones singled and Destiny Jones followed up with a walk. Meaghan Dean singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw, scoring B. Jones and giving EMU a 1-0 lead with runners on second and third.
• Hannah Johnston drove in D. Jones with an RBI single and Brooke Morris reached on a fielder’s choice, while Dean scored on an error and put EMU ahead 3-0.
Third Inning
• D. Jones led off with a double, but didn’t stay on second long as she came in to score a home run to right-center from Dean, her sixth bomb of the season.
Fourth and Fifth Innings
• Lambert was rolling, keeping the WildCat bats off balance until the bottom of the fourth. An error, a stolen base and a ground out to second put a runner on third, who came in to score on a sac fly, giving Randolph their first run of the game.
• In the bottom of the fifth, the WildCats were able to chip away a big more at EMU’s lead after three straight singles plated a run before Lambert got three straight outs to keep the damage to just one run.
Sixth and Seventh Innings
• EMU added some insurance runs in the top of the sixth, as Aliza Judd and D. Jones both singled and then came in to score on Dean’s second home run of the day, this time a three-run shot, pushing EMU’s lead back to five, 8-3,
• Lambert sat the WildCats down in order in the bottom of the sixth and EMU added three more in their final at-bat. Brooke Morris singled and Maggie Mayhew was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on. Aspen Jones laid down a sac bunt, but was safe after an error by the pitcher, which led to Morris coming in to score. Judd drove in Mayhew with an RBI ground out and B. Jones plated her sister with an RBI single, giving EMU an 11-2 advantage.
• In the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff single was followed by two quick outs. But the WildCats were able to do some damage, tacking on three runs on two single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. But Lambert got a fly out to left to end the game and secure her first win of the season.

Statistical Leaders
Dean: 3-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R
D. Jones: 2-4, 2B, 3 R
Lambert: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO

EMU at Randolph – Game Two

Records: EMU 6-20, 2-10 ODAC | Randolph 3-23, 1-11 ODAC

WP: Rylee Humble (2-11)
LP: Jordan Lane (1-8)

Highlights

First Inning
• After EMU went down scoreless in the first, as Judd picked up a single but was left at second, Randolph came to the plate looking to get on the board early. A one-out double put a runner in scoring position and, after Lane got a second out, an RBI single up the middle scored the runner and gave the WildCats a 1-0 lead.
Fifth Inning
• EMU hit the ball hard in the middle innings, but the Randolph defense came up with some nice stops in the field to keep the Royals off the board.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Randolph added a pair of insurance runs, as a pair of single and a double steal put runners on second and third. A two-RBI single pushed their lead to 3-0 before Lane got a popout to second to end the threat.
Sixth and Seventh Inning
• The Royals had a chance to get on the board in the top of the sixth as B. Jones singled and D. Jones walked. A fly out from Johnston put two runners in scoring position, but a line out on a hard hit ball to second ended the inning.
• Dean came in to pitch a scoreless sixth, but EMU couldn’t push anyone across, despite a one-out double from Mayhew, her second double of the game.

Statistical Leaders
Mayhew: 2-3, 2 2B
Judd and B. Jones: 2 hits apiece

What’s Next
EMU is back at home for a pair of doubleheaders this week. They’ll be at home on Saturday for a pair of games against Randolph Macon. They’ll celebrate their lone senior, Kaliyah Braxton, before game one. That series will be followed by a two-game Sunday against Sweet Briar. Both doubleheaders start at 1:00 pm.

— EMU Athletics —