ASHLAND, Va. (EMU Athletics) – Following a postponement due to inclement weather, EMU Baseball had to wait an additional 24 hours until Sunday to load up the bus for an ODAC weekend doubleheader at Randolph Macon. Unfortunately, it was a rough day at the ballpark for the Diamond Royals as they got beat by the host Yellow Jackets in both games.
Records: EMU 9-12, 1-6 ODAC | (RV) Randolph Macon 13-7, 7-3 ODAC
Game One: (RV) Randolph Macon 14, EMU 4 (7 innings)
WP: Carter Schuma (4-2)
LP: Walker Dixon (1-3)
Highlights
• The Yellow Jackets stung the Royals early and often in game one, starting with six runs in the bottom of the first. Following a scoreless second inning, Randolph Macon added two more runs to make it an 8-0 ball game.
• EMU broke up the shutout with a run in the top of the fourth. Dalton Rocke hit an RBI groundout to the shortstop, opening the door for Michael Duncan to score. Randolph Macon countered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, making it 10-1 in favor of the Yellow Jackets after four innings of play.
• The Royals had their best offensive output of game one in the fifth inning, pushing two runs across home plate and onto the scoreboard. Daniel McGinnis smacked a single to center field to send Hadikell Bruno home. Two batters later, Erik Wilkinson reached on a fielder’s choice to bring in Trevor Gjormand. The Yellow Jackets got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth to make the score Randolph Macon 11, EMU 3.
• Both squads went scoreless in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, the Royals squeezed in one run on a Wilkinson sac fly, allowing Aidan Miller to tag up and score. However, the Randolph Macon answered with three runs to go up by 10 and end the game in the seventh via the 10-run rule.
Statistical Leaders
Miller: 2-for-4, 1 R
Wilkinson: 2 RBIs
Duncan, Gjormand, Noah Sanderson: 2 hits each
Game Two: (RV) Randolph Macon 17, EMU 7 (8 innings)
WP: Peter Phillips (3-0)
LP: Zach Danielczyk (1-3)
Highlights
• Similar to game one, the Yellow Jackets flew out front early with a big first inning, plating five runs in the opening frame. Randolph Macon repeated the feat in the fourth inning with six more runs to take an 11-0 lead on the Royals.
• EMU began to stage a comeback with four runs in the sixth inning. Dylan Hall got the rally going with an infield single to send Gjormand home. Duncan then smacked a single to right field to bring in Miller. Coming into the game at first base, Jacob Dwyer reached base on an error by Randolph Macon’s second baseman, opening the door for Hall to score. Bruno then got on base via a fielder’s choice while Duncan touched home plate. Randolph Macon was only able to get one of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning, allowed the Royals to close the gap to 12-4.
• The Diamond Royals continued to close the gap with three more runs in the seventh. Duncan continued his good form in game two with a base hit to right field to send Gjormand home. Dwyer then slapped an infield single to bring in Duncan. Miller scored on the same play thanks to an error by the Yellow Jackets left fielder. The Yellow Jackets tallied two runs in the bottom of the seventh, making the new score Randolph Macon 14, EMU 7.
• However, Randolph Macon squashed any comeback hopes the Royals had by pushing three runs across in the eighth to activate the 10-run rule and end the game.
Statistical Leaders
Miller: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R
Duncan: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBIs
What’s Next
The Diamond Royals will need to put these games in the rear view mirror quickly as they face off with Mary Baldwin in a non-conference match up on Tuesday, March 31. The game will be played at Shifflett Field in Grottoes, and first pitch is set for 3 p.m.
— EMU Athletics —
