NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The long-awaited first pitch of baseball season happened on Tuesday as EMU Baseball headed to the 757 to take on Christopher Newport. What started as a pitchers’ duel turned into an offensive slugfest; unfortunately for the Diamond Royals, it was the host Captains who came out on top, 9-4.
Michael Duncan, a junior from Arlington, had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3. Dalton Rocke, a senior from Richmond, led the Royals with two RBIs on the day.
Records: EMU 0-1 | CNU 1-0
WP: Charlie Gunn (1-0)
LP: Carter Mills (0-1)
Highlights
• The opening innings were dominated by pitching as both teams were held scoreless in the first five innings. Starter Carter Cashin, Max Fritts, Zach Danielczyk, and Jackson Hull combined to limit CNU to no runs and just two hits across the first five frames.
• EMU lit up the scoreboard first with three runs in the top of the sixth. Dalton Rocke smacked a base hit down the third base line to bring in both Aidan Miller and Brendan White, putting the Royals up 2-0. Jett Cabanban followed that up with a single up the middle, allowing Rocke to touch home plate. CNU got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning to make it EMU 3, CNU 1 going to the seventh.
• The Royals tacked on one run of insurance to their lead in the top half of the seventh. Erik Wilkinson belted a single to left field to bring home Hady Bruno and make it a 4-1 ball game in favor of EMU.
• The largely dormant CNU bats woke up in the bottom of the seventh. The Captains put together an eight-run frame to sail out in front of the Royals, 9-4.
• Neither side could push a run across in the eighth or ninth innings as CNU made the plays down the stretch to seal the win.
Statistical Leaders
Duncan: 2-for-3, 1 2B
Rocke: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs
Wilkinson/Cabanban: 1 RBI each
Cashin: 2.0 IP, 0 runs and 1 hit allowed
What’s Next
With tomorrow’s home opener postponed due to field conditions at Royals Field, EMU Baseball will hit the road this Saturday, Feb. 14, for a doubleheader against William Peace. The teams will play at the USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary, N.C., with first pitch of game one scheduled for 1 p.m.
— EMU Athletics —
