VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The EMU Baseball team took a trek to the east coast of Virginia on Saturday, continuing their ODAC gauntlet with a doubleheader at Virginia Wesleyan. Sadly, the long ride home for the Royals got even longer as the Marlins took both games, winning 9-8 in walk-off fashion in game one before winning game two 19-9 to complete the sweep.

Records: EMU 9-18, 4-12 ODAC | Virginia Wesleyan 8-16, 4-12 ODAC

Game One: Virginia Wesleyan 9, EMU 8
WP: Zach Miller (2-1)
LP: Andrew Ritterskamp (0-1)

Highlights
• The Royals struck first with three runs in the top of the third. Dylan Hall scored on a Marlins passed by, and then Aidan Miller reached on a VWU throwing error, opening the door for Noah Sanderson to touch home. Miller tagged up for home on a Jett Cabanban sacrifice fly to complete the Royals’ scoring. The Marlins got those three runs right back in the bottom of the frame, and the two teams entered the fourth inning tied at three.
• Neither team lit up the scoreboard in the fourth or the fifth innings, but EMU resumed the scoring in the top of the sixth. Garrett Nyce singled to right field to bring in Dalton Rocke and put EMU up 4-3. But again, the Royals’ lead did not last as Virginia Wesleyan pushed two runs across in the bottom of the seventh to go 5-4.
• It turned out to be a frenetic, back-and-forth last two innings between the two sides. EMU tied things up at 5-5 on a Rocke base hit to centerfield to score Daniel McGinnis. However, just as the Royals were about to reel them in, the Marlins got off the hook once again. A Nathan Bryant two run home-run to left field put Virginia Wesleyan up 6-5 after eight.
• The Royals fought back in the top of the ninth with three more runs. Erik Wilkinson singled through the left side to bring in Hall, followed by a McGinnis single to score Miller. Rocke then reached base on a Marlins error to put EMU up 8-6.
• However, the host Marlins countered in the bottom of the ninth with three runs of their own to take the win. Bryant was the hero for Virginia Wesleyan, hitting a single down the right field line to bring in the game winning-run in the form of Joshua Jones.

Statistical Leaders
McGinnis: 3-for-5, run, RBI
Wilkinson: 2-for-5, run, RBI
Rocke: 2-for-5, run, RBI

Game Two: Virginia Wesleyan 19, EMU 9 (8 innings)
WP: Ryan Cason (2-2)
LP: Brayden Pendleton (1-2)

Highlights
• Like game one, the Royals lit up the scoreboard first. Wilkinson singled to left center to bring in Nick Arnold. Nyce then doubled down the left field line, scoring both McGinnis and Wilkinson to put the Royals 3-0. Unfortunately, the Marlins responded with three runs in the bottom half to tie the game at 3-3 after one inning.
• Down 6-3 going into the third, EMU closed the gap with two runs. Rocke reached on a fielder’s choice, opening the door for Miller to score. Wilkinson then touched home, taking advantage of a throwing error by VWU’s catcher to put the Royals within one at 6-5.
• The Marlins then scored four unanswered runs across the third, fourth, and fifth innings to go up 10-5.
• Miller had a big moment with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, hitting a bases-clearing doubled to left center to put EMU back in the game, down 10-8.
• The Marlins swam away from the Royals with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 14-8.
• Miller hit a solo home run to left field, but that was it for EMU’s bats. Virginia Wesleyan tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the eighth to end the game early on the 10-run rule.

Statistical Leaders
Miller: 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBIs
McGinnis: 3-for-5, run
Wilkinson: 3-for-5, 2 runs, RBI

What’s Next
The Diamond Royals will look to defend their home field against Bridgewater in the Route 42 Rivalry on Wednesday, April 16. First pitch from Royals Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.

— EMU Athletics —