The baseball team traveled down to Rocky Mount, North Carolina for their two-day season opening weekend. The team avoided being swept by North Carolina Wesleyan College and came home with one win and two losses in the three game series.

Junior Bailey Hall began pitching for EMU, only giving up one run in four innings. By scoring on a wild pitch, NC Wesleyan was the first to put a point on the board in the bottom of the first inning. However, in the top of the third, senior Zach Roberts answered back with a single, bringing sophomore Corey Willis home. With a score of 1-1, both teams were eager to put additional points on the board.

At the top of the fifth inning ended with zero runs for EMU, NC Wesleyan added four runs, four hits, and zero errors to end the fifth.

Sophomore Jaylon Lee doubled in the sixth inning, but it was not enough. Finishing the game with no additional points, the final score of the seven-inning game was 5-1.

Looking for redemption, senior Ryan Brewer started pitching for the Royals in the second game of the day. However, in the first inning, NC Wesleyan quickly got ahead with one run and two hits.

EMU left the bases loaded in the top of the second inning as sophomore Jacob Merica received the third out after grounding out to third base. EMU continued fighting as sophomore Ray Tricarico singled, allowing sophomore Brett Lindsay to score in the third inning. After scoring on the error, NC Wesleyan added an additional point.

A scoreless fourth inning kept the game at 1-2, but the Diamond Royals answered back when senior Dan Scott home. With a tied game, senior Zach Roberts scored on a wild pitch, giving EMU the lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning. After two runs, NCWC took back the lead of the game.

As a relief pitcher, sophomore Jonathan Nagle threw two scoreless innings. The game ended with NCWC taking the win against the Royals with a 4-3 score.

Finally playing a full nine-inning game, the Royals earned their first win of the season with 11 runs in the final game against NCWC.

In the top of the third, sophomore Billy Quinn scored when Brett Lindsay was walked with bases loaded. Lindsay, Roberts, and Merica all scored when Tricarico rallied with a double. In the bottom of the third, NCWC added two points to the board, which brought the score to 4-2.

Quinn scored on a balk as Scott grounded out to the pitcher. Ending the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs, NCWC took the lead from the Royals. However, the Royals added a point on the board when Tricarico singled, and Roberts scored.

In the top of the seventh, EMU got back to leading the game when Tricarico, Willis, and senior Tyler McFadden each hit RBI singles.

Pitching in the eighth, senior Riley Wesp threw a scoreless inning for the Royals. Senior Michael Wilhite also finished strong with a scoreless ninth to end the game with a score of 11- 8.

The Diamond Royals continue to prepare for their upcoming season opener on Saturday, Feb. 16 with a 12 p.m. start time.