The Eastern Mennonite baseball team played at Averett on Thursday in a rescheduled game. The Royals put a big five-spot on the board in the second, but the Cougars scored seven unanswered and stole a 7-6 decision.
The men batted through the order in their second at-bat. Kyle Armstrong (Greenville, VA/Riverheads) brought in the first run with a single up the middle, and Adam Posey (Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) had a big two-run double two batters later as the Royals jumped ahead 5-0.
Averett plated four runs off starter Austin Oliver (Gordonsville, VA/Orange County) in the bottom of the fourth to cut into EMU’s lead. Then in the sixth, the home team scored three times off reliever Ryan Henschel (New Market, VA/Stonewall Jackson) to jump in front 7-5.
Armstrong led off the ninth with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly. But the Royals left the tying run on second base in the 7-6 loss.
Phillip Jordan (West Point, VA/Christchurch) had three of the men’s eight hits and scored one run. Posey went 2-4 with three RBIs and a run. Armstrong finished 2-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Henschel (0-1) took the loss on the hill, giving up three runs in 2.1 innings.
The Royals slide to 3-5 as they prepare for a busy weekend. EMU is hosting a pair of doubleheaders, taking on Cairn on Saturday and Mount Saint Vincent on Sunday.