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.  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.  (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).  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.  The senior also started on the mound and pitched 6.1 innings for a no decision.  Only three of the runs were earned and Posey struck out nine batters.  (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.  The Cougars had led 5-1 when the rains had ended play the day before.  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.  91¶ÌÊÓƵ scored 12 runs to surge in front 12-5, with Hedrick knocking a pair of two-run singles in the inning.  (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.  (Miramar, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace) was 3-4 with three runs.  Hedrick was 2-4 with a walk and four RBIs, while (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) added three RBIs.  Every starter reached base at least twice for the men.

(Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) pitched four innings and was charged with five runs.  (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) pitched Clark’s half of the fifth inning before rains suspended the game and earned the win.  (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.  Armstrong had a two-run single in the first.  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.  Henschel started and allowed all of the runs in 4.2 innings, although only one was earned.  Salladay struck out three in 2.1 innings of hitless relief.

Hedrick and Armstrong were each 2-4 with two RBIs.  Posey and McAlister each scored twice.  (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.  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.  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.  With two outs and just a runner on third, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ took off.  (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) brought in three runs with a bases loaded single, and (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) roped a two-run triple.  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.  (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.  Mathews finished 3-3 with four RBIs while Estrada was 2-3 with three RBIs, two walks and two runs.  (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) had three hits, scoring twice and knocking in two more.  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.  Four runs scored, highlighted by ‘s (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) two-run single.  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.  McAlister had two RBIs while Estrada reached base twice on walks.  (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.  (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.  91¶ÌÊÓƵ then welcome Emory & Henry on Saturday for their ODAC opener.