HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The EMU softball team concluded its 2024 home slate on Sunday, taking on the Blazers of Hood College in a pair of games.

In game one, EMU tacked on runs in the first, second and fifth while Makyla Cyzick was dominant in the circle, striking out 13 in a 5-2 win. Game two saw more offense from EMU, as they scored in every inning, and Natalye Graham was dominant in the circle, en route to a 10-2 five-inning win.

EMU vs Hood College – Game One

Records: EMU 10-18, 5-13 ODAC | Hood College 10-21, 2-10 MAC

WP: M. Cyzick (8-12)
LP: R. Gottleib (8-8)

Highlights
• The Blazers got on the board in the top of the first after a leadoff double and a pair of wild pitches plated a run, giving Hood College a 1-0 lead. But Cyzick settled down and struck out a pair and got a groundout. EMU responded in their half of the first as Samantha Hensley led off with a single and moved to second on Destiny Jones’ sac bunt. Grace Fravel flied out, moving Hensley to third before Cyzick drove her in with an RBI single. Braxten Jones followed that up with an RBI double, scoring Cyzick and giving EMU a 2-1 lead.
• Cyzick struck out the side in the second and EMU extended their lead. Taylor Umberger reached on an error and moved to third on a pair of sac bunts, before Hensley drove her in with a double to deep center field, putting the Royals ahead 3-1.
• Nothing was going for either team in the fourth, and Cyzick worked around a walk and a single to keep EMU in the lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Fravel led off with a single, moved to third on Cyzick’s double and came in to score on B. Jones’ RBI single. Cyzick came in to score on a groundout from Umberger, putting the Royals ahead 5-1. Both teams were able to put runners on in the sixth, but no runs were scored to send the game to the seventh. The Blazers made things interesting in the seventh, as they loaded the bases and pushed across a run with a walk, but Cyzick shut the door with her 13th strikeout to end the game.

Statistical Leaders
Hensley: 3-4, 2B, RBI, R
Cyzick: 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R, 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 13 K
B. Jones: 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI

EMU vs Hood College – Game Two

Records: EMU 11-18, 5-13 ODAC | Hood College 10-22, 2-10 MAC

WP: Natalye Graham (3-5)
LP: S. Munson (1-10)

Highlights
• Graham sat the Blazers down in order in the first, to bring the Royals to the plate, and just like in game one, EMU got on the board early with a run. Brooke Morris singled with one out, followed by Fravel’s base hit that sent Morris to third. Cyzick walked to load the bases with just one out. B. Jones hit a grounder to the first baseman, who threw home and got Morris. But the catcher’s throw to first was errant, allowing Fravel to score from second for a 1-0 lead. EMU added a second run in the second as Emerson Adkins doubled, moved to third on Umberger’s base hit and scored on an RBI groundout by Hensley.
• EMU’s offense once again loaded the bases in the third, as Fravel doubled, and walks were issued to Cyzick and B. Jones. Graham’s sac fly scored Fravel, which was followed by Adkins’ double to right-center that scored Kendyll Eddins, who was pinch running. The final two runs were scored on a fielding error by the second baseman, allowing Adkins and B. Jones, pushing EMU’s lead to 6-0.
• The Blazers got on the board, and broke up Graham’s no-hitter, in the top of the fourth as their leadoff batter homered to left field. A bunt single was sandwiched between a strikeout and a popout, but Hood pushed another run across after a HBP and an error, but with runners on first and third, Fravel made a great catch in foul territory to record the last out. EMU added one back in their half of the fourth with an RBI single from Graham, making the score 7-2.
• After a pair of Blazers reached on errors in the fifth, Graham got a pair of strikeouts to keep Hood at two. Adkins continued her stellar day at the plate, leading off the fifth with a double. Umberger reached on an error, pushing Adkins to third and she came in to score on Hensley’s fielder’s choice. Morris laid down a bunt single to load the bases and Fravel walked it off with a single to center, plating Umberger and Hensley.

Statistical Leaders
Fravel: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Adkins: 3-3, 3 2B, RBI, 3 R
Graham: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 7 K

What’s Next
EMU will hit the road on Wednesday for a crucial ODAC showdown against Guilford. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Quakers is set for 2 pm.

— EMU Athletics —