WINCHESTER, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The EMU Baseball team headed north on I-81 to Winchester on Tuesday, hoping to complete a season sweep of ODAC rival Shenandoah. Instead, the Hornets, ranked seventh in the latest D3Baseball.com national poll, avenged the earlier loss to the Diamond Royals by the final score of 6-3.

Dalton Rocke and Erik Wilkinson provided the offense for the Royals on the afternoon with a home run each.

Records: EMU 10-24, 1-17 ODAC | #7 Shenandoah 29-7, 12-6 ODAC

WP: Joe Gleason (1-1)
LP: David Joslyn (0-2)

Highlights

• Shenandoah edged out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jaime Padilla took advantage of an EMU error to reach home.
• The Hornets built on their lead with five runs on the bottom of the fourth to fly to a 6-0 lead over the Royals.
• The Diamond Royals responded in the next inning when Rocke hammered a solo home run to left field to make it a 6-1 ball game.
• Wilkinson closed the gap for EMU in the top of the eighth with a two-run home run to the deepest part of the ballpark in center field, bringing in both himself and Daniel McGinnis. With that, the Royals narrowed the deficit to three runs to put themselves within striking distance heading to the ninth.
• However, the Royals could only manage a Dylan Hall walk in the top of the ninth as the Hornets got their revenge to split the season series.

Statistical Leaders
Rocke: 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI
Wilkinson: 1-for-2, HR, R, 2 RBIs
McGinnis: 1-for-3, 2B, R
Carter Mills: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 Ks

What’s Next
The Diamond Royals are back home tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22 for a rare mid-week doubleheader against Regent. The Battle of the Royals will commence at Royals Field with the first pitch of game one at 12 p.m.

— EMU Athletics —