HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – For the second time in as many weeks, EMU Baseball hosted a team from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference for a Saturday doubleheader. This time, the Diamond Royals welcomed Hilbert College to Royals Field for two, seven-inning games. The day featured prolific batting from both sides as the Royals split the twin bill with the visiting Hawks.
Records: EMU 6-6 | Hilbert 3-4
Game One: Hilbert 6, EMU 4 (8 innings)
WP: Gregory Lowry (1-1)
LP: Walker Dixon (0-1)
S: Ryan Hilton (1)
Highlights
• Hilbert scored quickly on an RBI groundout in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead.
• However, the Royals countered with the long ball. Lead-off hitter Dalton Rocke blasted a solo home run to left field to tie the game at one through the first inning.
• The Hawks tacked on a run apiece in the second, third, and fifth innings to fly out to a 4-1 lead through five innings.
• The Royals got their offense back going with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Daniel McGinnis jacked a double to right field to bring pinch runner Kyler Rodgers and put EMU within two, 4-2.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Rocke came up with a clutch two-run home run to left center field to even the score at 4-4 and force extra innings in game one.
• Unfortunately for the home crowd, Hilbert pushed two runs across in the top of the eighth and shut down the Royals in the bottom half to clinch the game one victory.
Statistical Leaders
Rocke: 2-for-4, 2 HRs, 2 runs, 3 RBIs
McGinnis: 2-for-4, RBI
Dixon: 5.0 IP, 6 Hs, 2 ER, 3 Ks
Game Two: EMU 16, Hilbert 7 (7 innings)
WP: Andrew Ritterskamp (2-0)
LP: Jacob Kim-Kubiak (0-1)
Highlights
• The first frame was scoreless, but from there, both teams scored early and often. Hilbert got things started with one run across home plate in the top of the second, but EMU responded in a big way with three runs in the bottom half. Noah Sanderson tied the game at 1-1 with a sac fly to left field, opening the door for Erik Wilkinson to tag up and score. Then, Trevor Gjormand muscled a two-run home run to left center field to push the Royals out front, 3-1.
• The Diamond Royals padded their lead with two more runs in the third inning. Aidan Miller reached on an error by Hilbert’s third baseman that allowed Rocke to touch home.
• Michael Duncan then hammered a double to left field to bring in Miller and make the score EMU 5, Hilbert 1.
• The Hawks’ bats came alive to the tune of six runs in the top of the fourth to edge out in front of EMU, 7-5.
• The Royals showed resilience by tying the game back up quickly in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a Rocke RBI single to center field and a sac fly by Miller.
• EMU blew the game wide open with a whopping nine runs in the sixth inning. Miller got the scoring started with a base hit through the right side to bring in Rocke for what proved to be the game-winning run. Duncan then smacked a base hit to center field to plate Miller. Wilkinson then took advantage of a Hilbert wild pitch to touch home. Trevor Selph then blasted a two-RBI double to left center field, scoring both Duncan and Sanderson. Gjormand continued his strong game two with a double to right center, allowing Rodgers to score. Dylan Hall hit a double of his left center field, bringing Gjormand around to score. Then, Miller cranked yet another double to straight away center field to score Hall. When the dust settled, the Royals led the Hawks 16-7. That score held up as Eli Monroe came on in relief to shut the door on Hilbert and seal the game two win for the home team.
Statistical Leaders
Gjormand: 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 3 runs, 3 RBIs
Duncan: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs
Rocke: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 runs, RBI
Ritterskamp: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R
Monroe: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 Ks
What’s Next
The Diamond Royals will resume their lengthy homestand on Wednesday, March 11, when they host the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin. First pitch from Royals Field is set for 3 p.m.
— JMU Athletics —
