HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The EMU Baseball team opened up ODAC play on Saturday with a stiff challenge, playing host to the defending ODAC champions from Lynchburg. The visiting Hornets looked every bit like fifth-ranked team in the country in the D3Baseball.com poll, sweeping the doubleheader over the Diamond Royals in convincing fashion.
Records: EMU 7-8, 0-2 | #5 Lynchburg 12-3-1, 3-0-1
Game One: #5 Lynchburg 12, EMU 4
WP: Tyler Kaltreider (4-0)
LP: Ryan Gimbel (1-1)
Highlights
• The Hornets flew out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the second, highlighted by a Sean Pokorak solo home run.
• EMU got one of those runs back in the bottom of the second when Trevor Gjormand smacked a base hit to right field to bring in Noah Sanderson.
• Lynchburg tacked on a two-run home run in the third. After three straight scoreless innings, the Hornets brought in another run in the top of the seventh to make it a 7-1 ball game.
• The Diamon Royals answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh as Michael Duncan reached home on a wild pitch and Jett Cabanban scored on a Gjormand RBI groundout. That made the score Lynchburg 7, EMU 3 through seven innings.
• Lynchburg snuffed out any hopes of a game one comeback by the Royals with five-run ninth inning. The Royals scored one run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was nowhere near enough.
Statistical Leaders
Gjormand: 3-for-4, 2 RBIs
Aidan Miller; 2-for-4
Game Two: #5 Lynchburg 13, EMU 2 (7 innings)
WP: Nick Mattfield (2-1)
LP: Zach Danielczyk (1-1)
Highlights
• The Hornets picked up right where they left off, scoring early and often to pull out to an 8-0 lead.
• EMU got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Duncan scored on a Gjormand RBI groundout to the Lynchburg shortstop.
• After four more runs from Lynchburg, the Royals pushed one run home in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly by Miller with Dalton Rocke tagging up to score.
• Lynchburg tallied one more run in the top of the seventh and then shut down EMU in the bottom half to secure the game two win via run rule.
Statistical Leaders
Rocke: 1-for-3, run scored
Miller: 1-for-2, RBI
What’s Next
The Diamond Royals will take a short trip to do battle with Mary Baldwin on Tuesday, March 17. The game will be played at Shifflett Field in Grottoes, and first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
— EMU Athletics —
