With runs being scored in all but two innings, the EMU Diamond Royals were able to edge out Bridgewater in a slugfest on the road to come out on top to win by a score of 13-10.
The win moves the Royals to 5-7 in conference play and 11-14-1 overall with a tough test ahead of them as they host nationally ranked #8 Randolph-Macon in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.
EMU got the offense going with Jaylon Lee (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) hitting a single with two outs in the first inning. Ray Tricarico (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) singled then a walk loaded the bases. Corey Willis (Fredricksburg, Va./Massaponax) drove in his first RBIs of the game with a two-run single followed by Tyler McFadden(Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) hitting an RBI single to quickly give the Royals a 3-0 lead.
The first three batters for the Eagles hit their way on base and all came around to score as Bridgewater tied the game in the bottom of the first inning.
Zach Roberts (Stuarts Draft, Va./Riverheads) brought in Jordan Jones (Saxe, Va./Randolph Henry) on an RBI double in the top of the second inning then EMU was unable to score after loading the bases in the third.
Roberts got it going again in the fourth when a leadoff single led to the bases being loaded once again with one out. Willis brought in the first run on a fielder's choice and McFadden followed with an RBI single that stayed on the infield. Bridgewater responded with one run of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Matt Curry (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) started another big inning with a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth. Roberts singled and stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Lee brought in both runners by putting the ball in play and reaching on a throwing error. Tricarico singled Lee to third base then stole second. Brett Lindsay (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) drove in a run with an RBI single to center field then Willis added a sacrifice fly to bring home the fourth run of the inning.
Three RBI doubles for the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth inning matched the big inning EMU put up with four runs of their own then added another in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to bring it to a one-run ball game entering the seventh.
Lee led off the inning with a walk and steal of second base. Tricarico doubled down the right field line to score Lee and Lindsay followed with a double of his own down the right field line to score Tricarico as the Royals jumped back out in front by three.
Tricarico smacked a triple to right centered field to lead off the top of the ninth inning then scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Lindsay to increase the EMU lead to four. Bridgewater got their first two batters on base in the bottom of the ninth and scored one of them on a fielder's choice, but a fly out and strike out ended the small Eagle rally.
Ryan Brewer (Martinsville, Va./Franklin County) earned the win entering the game in the fifth inning and throwing an inning and a third. Connor Lutz (Colonial Beach, Va./Colonial Beach) earned the save throwing the final 3.1 innings giving up only two hits and one run while striking out three with just one walk.
Tricarico finished 4-5 scoring four times with a triple and double for one RBI. Lindsay was 2-3 with three RBIs and two walks. Lee scored four times while Willis had four RBIs. Roberts and McFadden both had three hits combining for three RBIs.