Softball opened their double header weekend with split games against Roanoke College.
The Royals earned their first conference win of the 2018 season on Saturday afternoon, becoming 1-1 in the ODAC.
These games usually only last 7 innings, but the first game ended with EMU winning 2-0 after extra innings.
In the bottom of the first inning, first-year Danielle Brenneman received a double for the Royals. Junior Tiffani Shaheen helped her teammate advance into scoring position, however it was not enough. The Royals left two on bases after three outs.
Neither team received hits until the sixth inning when sophomore Sam Breeden hit a two-out double, but she was left on base to keep the score at 0-0.
With the score still at 0-0, the game was forced into extra innings. The tie breaker placed a runner at second for the Maroons, but EMU’s defense quickly responded with three outs, giving the Royals another chance to take the win.
Junior Sydney Reath hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the eighth inning to give EMU the win, 2-0.
Reath went 1-3 with two RBIs, while first-year Erin Rockwell went 3-3.
First-year Kelsi Martin pitched the entire 8-inning game, allowing only one hit. Because of this, Martin received the ODAC Pitcher of the Week in softball. She is 6-0 with a 1.54 earned run average on the season.
In the second game against Roanoke, the Royals struggled hitting the ball and did not have a strong defense. In the top of the second inning, the Maroons scored three unearned runs after loading the bases with two outs.
The Royals did not take advantage when possible and kept the score at 3-0 after they left two on base.
The Maroons totaled five runs and two hits on three EMU errors. EMU was unable to respond, dropping to 8-0 for the final score. Roanoke’s eight runs were all unearned, based on errors.
Rockwell and sophomore Makayla Morris both added a hit, while Reath and Breeden each went 2-3.
Reath pitched 4.1 for the Royals, striking out three, but allowing five runs and two hits.
Martin came in relief for the final 1.2 and allowed two hits and three runs.
The Royals head into their next game with a 13-5 record.
