BUENA VISTA, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The EMU softball team finally found a break in the clouds long enough to kick off the 2026 season on Wednesday, as they traveled south to take on Southern Virginia.
In game one, the Knights used a big sixth inning, including a walk-off three-run home run, to pick up an 8-0 run-rule victory over EMU. In the second game, it was a pair of big innings, five in the third and fourth in the fourth, that propelled SVU to a 12-3 win, that was shortened due to darkness.
EMU at Southern Virginia – Game One
Records: EMU 0-1, 0-0 ODAC | SVU 1-2, 0-0 USA South
WP: Emmaline DeGroot (1-1)
LP: Jordan Lane (0-1)
Sv: Marni Bianchi (1)
Highlights
First Inning
• Aliza Judd led off with a walk and moved to second on Maggie Mayhew’s sac bunt. Meaghan Dean was hit by a pitch before Destiny Jones ground into a 5-3 double play to keep EMU off the board.
• In the bottom of the first, Lane, who was making her collegiate debut, worked around a two-out single to hold SVU scoreless.
Third Inning
• The Royals threatened once again in the top of the third, when Mayhew singled with two outs, Dean walked and D. Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Hannah Johnston popped up to second to end the EMU threat.
• In the bottom of the third, after a fly out to left, SVU’s Kyleigh Staton took Lane’s 0-2 pitch and put it over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. Lane settled down and got back-to-back Ks to get out of the inning.
Fourth and Fifth Innings
• In the bottom of the fourth, the Knights struck again, this time using an RBI double and an RBI single, to take a 3-0 lead.
• In the top of the fifth, Mayhew added her second single of the game, this time to right-center, but was stranded at first after a Dean ground out.
Sixth Inning
• Johnston picked up her first collegiate base knock, with a one-out single in the sixth, but another 5-3 double play kept the Royals looking for their first runs of the season.
• The Knights broke the game open in their half of the sixth, using a double, a single, a sac fly, two more singles and then a three-run home run to right-center, with two outs, to wrap up the mercy-rule win.
Statistical Leaders
Mayhew: 2-2
Johnston: 1-2, BB
Lane: 5.2 IP, 13 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
EMU at Southern Virginia – Game Two
Records: EMU 0-2, 0-0 ODAC | SVU 2-2, 0-0 USA South
WP: Malia Stauffer (1-0)
LP: Dean (0-1)
Highlights
First Inning
• The Royals went down in order in their half of the first. In the bottom of the first, SVU struck first once again. After a pair of singles put runners at first and third, Sophia Badell drove a ball over the center field fence for a home run and a 3-0 lead. Dean, who got the start in the circle for EMU, then issued a walk before picking up a strikeout and a pop out to end the frame.
Third and Fourth Innings
• SVU added to their lead in the bottom of the third, picking up five runs on four hits and a pair of EMU errors, before Haley Lambert came in and got out of the jam with a ground out.
• EMU was able to cut into the Knights’ lead in the top of the fourth. Mayhew was hit by a pitch and D. Jones walked. After a fly out, Johnston singled to load the bases before back-to-back walks to Delaney Via and Braxten Jones drove in a pair of runs. Unfortunately for the Royals, a 1-2-3 double play ended the inning with EMU still trailing 8-2.
• The Knights got those two runs back, and then some, in the bottom of the fourth, using four hits and an error to add a four spot and extend their lead to 12-2.
Fifth Inning
• Brooke Morris led off the top of the fifth with a single and moved to second on Judd’s single to left. Mayhew fouled out to left, and Morris advanced to third, and then came in to score on D. Jones’ RBI groundout. A strikeout ended the EMU threat, and the game, due to darkness.
Statistical Leaders
Morris: 1-2, R
D. Jones: 0-2, RBI
Lambert: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 BB
What’s Next
EMU will head to North Carolina this weekend for the Triangle Softball Classic, hosted by William Peace. They’ll start the Classic on Friday, taking on #25 Salisbury at 11:00 am before finishing with #6 Rowan at 1:30 pm.
— EMU Athletics —
