With the wins, Eastern Mennonite jumps from seventh in the conference standings into a tie for fifth. The top six teams will make the ODAC Tournament, a feat 91¶ÌÊÓƵ last accomplished in 2002.

The Royals are 9-9 in league play, tied with Roanoke at 8-8, although the men now hold the head-to-head tie-breaker between the two. Lynchburg sits just behind them at 7-8. 91¶ÌÊÓƵ plays two more conference games, ending the season with a twin bill at second-place Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. Roanoke has four games left, including a game at Lynchburg, while LC still has five league games to play, with the final one next Sunday.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 5, Roanoke 2
After pre-game Senior Recognition ceremonies, the day’s high spirits were dampened by an early confusing play. Just three batters in, Roanoke’s Craig Kiley lofted a ball deep to left, andÌýÌý(Greenville, Va./Riverheads) crashed into the outfield fence trying to make the catch. Despite the great effort by Armstrong, he couldn’t make the play and it was discovered the ball somehow got over the fence.Ìý After some discussion, the umpires ruled it a homerun, giving the Maroons a 2-0 lead.

But the Royals quickly took the momentum back, starting their first inning with a walk and back-to-back singles to score a run.Ìý A sacrifice fly tied it at 2-2, andÌýÌý(Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) knocked a clutch two-out, two-RBI single to left, flipping 91¶ÌÊÓƵ in front, 4-2.

Starting pitcherÌýÌý(Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) settled down on the mound and proceeded to allow just four more hits through 7.0 innings of work.

A Roanoke error in the fourth helped the men score, as Armstrong hit an RBI groundout to bump the lead to 5-2.

Brown handed the ball over to Ìý(Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) in the eighth, and the big righthander allowed just one baserunner as he struck out three to earn a two-inning save. The game fittingly ended on a great play in the outfield, as a diving catch by Armstrong in the left-center gap closed a 1-2-3 ninth.

Along with a couple of airborne catches in the outfield, Armstrong led at the plate as well, batting 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.ÌýÌý(Miramar, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace) was 2-3 with a walk and run, while Mathews andÌýÌý(Bedford, Va./Staunton River) each had a pair of hits as well.

Brown struck out five and improved to 3-4 with the win, while Marzullo tied for the ODAC lead with his fourth save of the season.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 11, Roanoke 9
The Royals looked destined for a sweep with a quick start in the second game. Rodriguez had three RBIs and Love sent a two-run bomb over the scoreboard in left field for the men’s first homerun of the season, as 91¶ÌÊÓƵ led 5-0 after two.

Roanoke quickly tied it with a five spot in the third, however, doing the final damage with a three-run homer to left, chasing starterÌýÌý(New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson).

91¶ÌÊÓƵ went back ahead thanks to a two-out error in the bottom of the frame, but the Maroons got a pair of two-out RBIs in the fourth to get in front.Ìý The teams traded single runs in the fifth, leaving the visitors on top 8-7.

¸é±ð±ô¾±±ð±¹±ð°ùÌýÌý(Sugar Creek, Ohio/Hiland) finally provided some stability on the mound, entering in the sixth and retiring six straight batters.Ìý Meanwhile RC’s reliever broke down in the bottom of the sixth, issuing back-to-back walks to start the inning.Ìý The Maroons botched a sacrifice play from the Royals, loading the bases with nobody out.Ìý One run scored on a wild pitch, another on a single from Mathews and a third on a sacrifice fly fromÌýÌý(Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford), as 91¶ÌÊÓƵ regained control, 10-8.

Rodriguez ripped an RBI double in the seventh, making it 11-8.

Marzullo returned to the hill in the eighth, and allowed one run in his second appearance of the day.ÌýÌý(Gladys, Va./Rustburg) then entered in the ninth, and after a leadoff walk he got three straight outs to lock up the win and earn his second save.

Weaver picked up his first win in an 91¶ÌÊÓƵ uniform with his big-time performance in the sixth and seventh innings.

The offense had 12 hits and six walks, with each position player either scoring or driving in a run. Rodriguez had a big game, going 3-4 with a walk and four RBIs. Carroll was 2-3 with a walk, scoring time times and knocking in another. Hall reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk while Love had two RBIs on his big homerun.

At 15-14 overall, the Royals step out of conference play for two games during the week. The men host The Apprentice School Tuesday at 4 p.m. in their final home game before playing at Messiah College at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 6, MCLA 5
The Royals opened with an afternoon game against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and they scored single runs in each of the first four innings.Ìý The Trailblazers put up three runs in the third, then took a 5-4 lead with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Neither team would score again until the eighth, when (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) hit a two-out RBI double to tie the score.Ìý (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) then led off the top of the ninth with a double, was sacrificed to third, and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby).Ìý MCLA managed a one-out walk in their final at-bat, but that was it.

The men had an 11-8 advantage in hitting, led by Posey’s 3-5 with two runs.Ìý The senior also started on the mound and pitched 6.1 innings for a no decision.Ìý Only three of the runs were earned and Posey struck out nine batters.Ìý (Carroll, Va./Carroll) earned the win by giving up just the one walk with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 14, Clark 6
Next up, the Royals resumed a doubleheader with Clark University.Ìý The Cougars had led 5-1 when the rains had ended play the day before.Ìý 91¶ÌÊÓƵ had the bases loaded at the time, however, and the rally resumed when play picked back up on Friday.

The men put on a clinic in the at-bat, sending 17 men to the plate with nine hits and four walks.Ìý 91¶ÌÊÓƵ scored 12 runs to surge in front 12-5, with Hedrick knocking a pair of two-run singles in the inning.Ìý (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) also had a two-run triple.

The Royals overcame four errors in the game by getting 15 hits and six walks in the seven-inning contest.Ìý (Miramar, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace) was 3-4 with three runs.Ìý Hedrick was 2-4 with a walk and four RBIs, while (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) added three RBIs.Ìý Every starter reached base at least twice for the men.

(Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) pitched four innings and was charged with five runs.Ìý (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) pitched Clark’s half of the fifth inning before rains suspended the game and earned the win.Ìý (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) then threw the final two frames, giving up an unearned run.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 6, Clark 3
The bats kept rolling in the nightcap as Eastern Mennonite jumped to a 6-1 lead.Ìý Armstrong had a two-run single in the first.Ìý The Cougars brought home single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth, but neither team scored over the final two innings.

(new Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) and (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) combined to limit Clark to just three hits.Ìý Henschel started and allowed all of the runs in 4.2 innings, although only one was earned.Ìý Salladay struck out three in 2.1 innings of hitless relief.

Hedrick and Armstrong were each 2-4 with two RBIs.Ìý Posey and McAlister each scored twice.Ìý (Miami, Fla./Doral Academy) didn’t chart an official at-bat, but finished with three walks, a sacrifice fly, an RBI and a run scored.

As the Royals prepare for Christopher Newport on Tuesday, they will have a chance to see how they have improved in Ben Spotts’ second season as head coach and with his first full class of recruits.Ìý Last year, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ had the same number of wins as this year after their trip to Florida (at 11-8), but struggled through the ODAC season to a 15-24 final record.Ìý Despite finishing with the most wins since 2002 last spring, the Royals will be looking for a better conference season this time around.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 23, Mount Saint Vincent 10
The Royals scored three runs in their first at-bat, but broke open a tie game in the bottom of the second.Ìý With two outs and just a runner on third, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ took off.Ìý (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) brought in three runs with a bases loaded single, and (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) roped a two-run triple.Ìý Seven runs scored as the men jumped in front, 10-3.

The Royals scored twice in the third, and four more times in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from (Miami, Fla./Doral).

The men led 16-8 in the bottom of the sixth when to landed another seven-run frame.Ìý (Roanoke, Va./Cave Springs) had his own two-run triple, and (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) hit a pinch-hit two-run single.

Although the game featured a combined 13 errors, Eastern Mennonite had 21 hits to go with seven walks.Ìý Mathews finished 3-3 with four RBIs while Estrada was 2-3 with three RBIs, two walks and two runs.Ìý (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) had three hits, scoring twice and knocking in two more.Ìý Hedrick finished with four RBIs and two runs, while (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) scored three times.

(Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits to get his first win of the season.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ 8, Mount Saint Vincent 4 – 6 innings
While the nightcap never got flowing the way the first game did, the Royals took full advantage of CMSV’s three errors, as half of their runs were unearned.

The Dolphins led 1-0 when 91¶ÌÊÓƵ took over in the bottom of the second.Ìý Four runs scored, highlighted by ‘s (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) two-run single.Ìý The visitors plated another single run in the third, but the Royals jumped the lead to 7-2 with three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame.

The final two innings were filled with tension, but little scoring, as 91¶ÌÊÓƵ turned a double play to end the game after the top of the sixth on account of darkness.

Posey had four of the men’s 10 hits, going a perfect 4-4.Ìý McAlister had two RBIs while Estrada reached base twice on walks.Ìý (Rustburg, Va./Rustburg) singled in his only official at-bat, adding a walk, run and RBI to his totals.

(Front Royal, Va./Warren County) improved to 1-0 by scattering six hits over 5.0 innings.Ìý (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) threw a scoreless sixth.

After sweeping all five games of their home-opening weekend, the Royals (6-1) are set to host Penn State-Harrisburg on Thursday.Ìý 91¶ÌÊÓƵ then welcome Emory & Henry on Saturday for their ODAC opener.

“(I expect) a team that is fundamental in what we do, competes every time out no matter who we are playing, understands the importance of hard work year round, and plays hard every day,” he explained.Ìý “I have placed a big emphasis on making the routine play, pitchers throwing strikes, and staying within our ability level in what we do.”

Spotts, who was a long-time assistant at the perennial power of neighboring Bridgewater College, sees positive signs already.

“I am excited as we begin the 2013 season,” he said. Ìý“The players have done what I have asked them to do since day one in the fall season and have been eager to learn and move this program forward in a positive direction.”

Despite having one of the best offensive seasons in program history, Eastern Mennonite finished 11-27 last spring.Ìý The Royals batted .335 as a team, and broke 91¶ÌÊÓƵ team records for hits, triples and at bats.Ìý Gone from that team, however, are All-ODAC performers Dylan Smith, Beau Banglesdorf and Chris Rodriguez.

Spotts feels like he still has good group of offensive players returning.

“I think we can expect some consistency throughout our lineup,” he said.Ìý “We lost some hitters to graduation who had good numbers but I feel we will have a solid approach every day and hope to be very aggressive on the bases.”

All-ODAC Second Team third basemen (Miramar, FL/Pace), who was an ODAC Rookie of the Year candidate last spring, returns after batting .374 with four homeruns and 41 RBIs in his freshman campaign.Ìý Senior outfielder (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) also returns.Ìý He was among national leaders with his 12 sacrifices last year, adding a .304 batting average.

Junior (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) is back at second base after batting .312 with eight sacrifices and a team high ten stolen bases.Ìý Also anchoring the returners are junior catcher (Miami, FL/Doral Academy) with his .310 batting average along with senior outfielder (West Point, VA/Christchurch) and a .429 batting clip.

Spotts thinks that experienced core will help lead his team.

“I feel we will have a solid team defensively who can make the routine play, an offense that I think can be consistent one through nine, and three veteran starters on the mound,” he said.

The returning base of pitchers is a bit smaller, but does give 91¶ÌÊÓƵ some experience.

As a junior transfer last spring, (Henrico, VA/Varina) led the Royals in starts, innings and strikeouts while tying for team highs in wins and complete games.Ìý He charted a 2-4 record with a 6.25 ERA.Ìý Classmate (Louisa, VA/Louisa County) was also 2-4 last year with a save, notching a team best 4.28 ERA.Ìý (Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) finished 1-3 with a complete game as a sophomore.

The trio of right handers will be the top three of Spott’s pitching rotation.Ìý As a team, the Royals struggled to stop opponents in 2012, giving up a .345 batting average with a 7.81 ERA.

“I know this is a big question mark for our team this year,” Spotts acknowledged.Ìý Ìý“I have three veteran guys who will be in a starting role so I am looking for them to log some innings and give us a good start every time out.Ìý Coach (Bill) Buracker has done a good job with our pitching staff on giving them a solid plan every day to improve.”

With pitching depth being an issue at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ for a number of years, Spotts knows it will be hard to turn that issue around in one year.

“We have placed a big emphasis on throwing strikes and competing every day on the mound,” he said.Ìý “It takes time to build a staff that has the needed depth and roles for a 40-game schedule, but I am excited in what this year’s staff can bring if they are consistent every time they go on the mound.”

Among the newcomers to the team this year, two of the expected impact players will help give 91¶ÌÊÓƵ depth on the mound and in the field: sophomore Mary Washington-transfer (Greenville, VA/Riverheads) and freshman (Gordonsville, VA/Orange County).Ìý (Fredericksburg, VA/Stafford), a sophomore transfer from St. Andrews University, will see time at shortstop.

While the Royals aren’t expecting to win the ODAC this year, they are expecting to build towards that.

“Our goals are to get better every day and understand the work it takes to build a championship program,” explained Spotts, “to learn to compete and play hard every day, and to make the conference tournament.”

After being picked to finish last out of 11 teams in the ODAC Preseason Poll, Eastern Mennonite will be looking to turn some heads this spring.Ìý Spotts’ former team, Bridgewater, was picked first in the poll, followed a vote behind by Lynchburg and one more tally behind by ODAC-newcomer Shenandoah.

Spotts says that as the Royals aim for that upper echelon, an expectation to work hard is the place to start.

“This year is a new direction,” he said. Ìý“There is a foundation that is being laid this year for the future on what it takes and means to be a college-level baseball player and to compete every time we step on the field.”

91¶ÌÊÓƵ opens the season Saturday, Feb. 2, with a doubleheader at North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount, NC.Ìý They play a single game at Ferrum College on Sunday.