HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals welcomed Trinity College of Connecticut to Royals Field on Tuesday, as the Bantams made their way through Virginia on a spring break trip.

After falling behind 11-3, EMU stormed back with eight runs in the sixth and seventh to tie things, before falling in the ninth, 12-11.

Records: EMU 5-14, 1-4 ODAC | Trinity 6-3, 0-0 NESCAC

WP: Jonathan Link (1-1)
LP: Will Waller (1-1)

Highlights
• Both teams went down fairly quietly in the first inning, with Royals starter Cooper Thomas inducing a double play to get out unscathed.

• In the second, the Bantams took a 1-0 lead on a solo homerun to left field. In the bottom of the second, Natty Solomon reached on an error, moved to third after a walk and a fielder’s choice, and came in to score on Forrest Shuey’s RBI single through the right side, knotting things at one.

• Trinity pulled ahead 2-1 on an RBI single off Trey Deane in the third, and added two more in the fifth on an error and an RBI single, taking a 4-1 lead.

• Natty Solomon, who had a monster day at the plate, pulled EMU within one in the bottom of the fifth, when his moonshot cleared the left field fence, scoring Ethan Spraker.

• It looked like the Bantams broke the game open in the sixth, scoring seven runs and taking an 11-3 lead, off three different EMU pitchers.

• The Royals started to chip away at the Trinity lead in their half of the sixth, with Nick Arnold getting an RBI on a bases loaded walk and Solomon doubling in a pair of runs. Then, in the seventh, Shuey led off with a double and pinch runner Drew Petitt came around to score on Aidan Miller’s base hit. After Logan Mason laid down a perfect bunt to reach base, Spraker singled in Miller and pulled the Royals within three, 11-8. Arnold then came up and homered to left center, driving in three and tying things at 11.

• Waller, who came in in relief in the sixth, pitched well, giving up just two hits until the ninth inning. With two down in the ninth, the leadoff man doubled and came in to score on a bloop hit to right field that fell just in front of the diving right fielder, putting Trinity ahead 12-11. Solomon reached in the ninth on an error but was stranded at first as the final two batters struck out and grounded out, respectively.

Statistical Leaders
Solomon: 4-6, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
Arnold: 1-4, HR, 4 RBI, R
Spraker: 4-6, RBI, 3 R

What’s Next
EMU will hit the road on Wednesday, returning to ODAC play, with a midweek contest at Washington and Lee. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm.

— EMU Athletics —