HARRISONBURG, Va. – The EMU Diamond Royals wrapped up a five-game homestand at Royals Field on Thursday, entertaining the visiting Hornets of Vermont State University Lyndon. EMU got back to .500 on the year in dominant fashion, exterminating the Hornets by the final of 14-2. The Royals spread the wealth in the win, with 10 different batters getting at least one hit. On the mound, Jack Dooley and Damen Tapscott teamed up to limit the Hornets to just four hits on the afternoon.

Records: EMU 3-3 | VSUL 0-3

WP: Dooley (1-1)
LP: Nathan Bigelow (0-1)
Save: Tapscott (1)

Highlights

• Both teams went scoreless in the opening frame, but after that, it did not take the Royals long to take control of the contest in the bottom of the second inning. With two on and no one out, Colin Troilo singled and then advanced second on a VSUL fielding error, allowing Matthew Harding and Erik Wilkinson to both score on the play to put EMU up 2-0. Troilo then advanced to third on an Aidan Miller single and reached home while Miller got picked off to make it 3-0 Royals after two.
• In the third, EMU tacked on two more when Harding got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Troilo brought home Garrett Nyce on a fielder's choice.
• Going to the fourth, Nyce reached first on a fielding error by the Hornets' third baseman, giving Nick Arnold an opening to score. Ethan Spraker scored on a bases loaded walk, and then Nyce got home himself thanks to a Troilo sacrifice fly.
• The Royals' lone run in the fifth came courtesy of a Spraker single to right center, bringing in Logan Mason. EMU added one in the sixth inning in similar fashion, with Dylan Hall singling to left center to score Troilo. That made the score 10-0 EMU through six.
• From the seventh inning onward, both teams emptied their benches to get game reps for more players. EMU added three more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth, and then VSUL prevented the shutout with two runs in the top of the ninth to bring the game to its final score.
• The Royals swiped bases all day, racking up an impressive 11 stolen bases.

Statistical Leaders

Troilo: 2-of-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIs

Spraker: 1-of-2, 2 runs, 1 RBI

Dooley: 5 IP, 0 ER, 7 Ks

Tapscott: 4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 7 Ks

What's Next

EMU Baseball will load up the bus and head north on Saturday, March 2 for a doubleheader against the Hood College Blazers. Game 1 of the twin bill in Frederick, Md., will begin at 12 p.m.