HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The Royals welcomed in Pitt-Bradford for a rare doubleheader on Sunday.

In the opener, there were some dramatics, as it took a walk-off two-run home run from Meaghan Dean in the bottom of the seventh for EMU to pick up a 7-5 win. Game two had far fewer theatrics as EMU exploded for eight runs in the first inning en route to a 8-0, five-inning win.

EMU vs Pitt-Bradford – Game One

Records: EMU 3-12, 0-4 ODAC | UPB 2-11, 0-0 AMCC

WP: Dean (3-7)
LP: Krislyn Clement (0-1)

Highlights

First Inning
• Jordan Lane worked around a two-out walk and got a fly out to bring EMU to the plate.
• In the bottom of the first, Aliza Judd led off with a single, moved to second on a sac bunt and got to third on a single by Destiny Jones. Jones was thrown out trying to steal second, but Dean came up with an RBI double, plating Judd for a 1-0 EMU lead.
Third and Fourth Innings
• UPB used a one-out single, a sac bunt, a walk and a single to tie the game at one in the top of the third.
• The Royals picked up a single from Braxten Jones in the bottom of the frame, but couldn’t push a run across. In the top of the fourth, an error and a walk, followed by a ground out, put runners on second and third. A single up the middle scored a run, giving the Panthers a 2-1 advantage.
• In the Royals half of the fourth, Hannah Johnston led off with a single, moved to third on Maggie Mayhew’s double and later came around to score on Lane’s RBI fielder’s choice
Fifth Inning
• The Panthers pulled back out in front in the top of the fifth, as two single, a pair of stolen bases and a single up the middle, scored two to give UPB a 4-2 lead.
Sixth and Seventh Innings
• After a leadoff solo home run pushed Pitt-Bradford’s lead to 5-2 in the sixth, Dean came in to pitch, getting out of a two-out jam and stranding two runners in scoring position.
• In the bottom of the sixth, with two outs, Mayhew and Aspen Jones both singled and came in to score on Payton Keesee’s two-RBI double, pulling EMU within one, 5-4.
• The Panthers added a two-out single, but couldn’t add to their lead, and the Royals came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
• B. Jones was hit by a pitch and D. Jones walked, bringing Dean to the plate, who blasted a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for the walkoff win.

Statistical Leaders
Dean: 2-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, R | 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO
Keesee: 1-1, 2B, 2 RBI
Mayhew: 2-2, 2B, R

EMU vs Pitt-Bradford – Game Two

Records: EMU 4-12, 0-4 ODAC | UPB 2-12, 0-0 AMCC

WP: Dean (4-7)
LP: Tae-Lynn Brabant (0-4)

Highlights

First Inning
• The Panthers got the leadoff batter on and over to third with no outs to start the game, but Dean got a ground out and a line out double play to keep UPB scoreless.
• EMU’s offense picked up where it left off in the seventh inning of game one. Judd and B. Jones both walked and advanced to second and third on a passed ball. D. Jones walk to load the bases and Dean singled up the middle, driving in a pair for a 2-0 lead.
• After an infield fly, Brooke Morris singled to left to load the bases once again, before Mayhew cleared them with a three-RBI double to the wall, putting EMU ahead 5-0
• A. Jones’ single sent Mayhew to third before Jones stole second putting two runners in scoring position. A fly out gave Pitt-Bradford two outs, but Judd picked up an infield single, plating Mayhew followed by a B. Jones walk and a D. Jones single for two more runs in the inning. Dean then singled to load the bases, but a fielder’s choice wrapped up the scoring. In total, EMU sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on seven hits.
Second Through Fifth Innings
• The first inning would be all the scoring that happened, as neither team was able to push anymore runs across. Dean sat the Panthers down in order in the third, an error put a UPB runner on in the fourth and then Haley Lambert came in to finish out the game, recording a foul out and a pair of strikeouts to secure the mercy-rule win.

Statistical Leaders
Mayhew: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R
D. Jones: 2-2, 2 RBI, R, BB
Dean: 2-3, 2 RBI, R, BB | 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER

What’s Next
EMU is back in action next Saturday, when they welcome in the University of Lynchburg to Gehman Field for an ODAC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 pm.

— EMU Athletics —