MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Royals baseball team ended a six game losing streak on Saturday afternoon, winning game one of their Sun Conference double header against Florida Memorial University 7-5. The game needed extra innings to find a winner but the Royals scored two runs in the top of the tenth and Blaine Rhea tossed a shutout bottom half to improve to 3-7 in league play and 6-16 overall.
The Royals opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to a double to left field from Anthony Dovale that plated two runs. The Royals scored again in the top of the third after Jose Quintana singled up the middle. Florida Memorial bounced back and scored five runs and took a 5-3 lead into the ninth inning.
After the Royals loaded the bases, Broderick Rodocker was hit by a pitch which allowed a run to score. A wild pitch from Florida Memorial scored a run and tied the game at 5-5 to force extra innings. Jordan Pike led off in the top of the tenth and put the Royals in a great spot to take the lead, smacking a double to right field. After getting advanced to third, Pike scored when Kevin Gregg singled up the middle to give the Royals back the lead. George Kirkland then doubled to right center and drove in the seventh run for the Royals extending their lead to 7-5.
Dylan Heiring went seven innings on the mound for the Royals and allowed five runs on 10 hits. Eric Green (1-2) earned his first win of the season, tossing two hitless innings. Blaine Rhea's shutout tenth earned him his first save of the season as well.
Chris Mejia and Kevin Gregg both went 2-for-5 in game one of the double header. Broderick Rodocker finished the game 1-for-2 with two walks. Seven bats combined for the Royals nine hits.
For the second week in a row, rain prevented the completion of the conference double header. The Royals and Lions started the game but it was called in the top of third with the Royals up 12-8.
The Royals will begin another busy week of home games on Monday, March 9, when they take on the Fighting Saints of the University of Saint Francis (Ill.) at 3 p.m. The Royals will then host William Penn (Iowa) for a double-header on Tuesday with game one scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. The 30th Annual Warner Invitational then kicks off on Thursday, March 12. Check www.warnerroyals.com for more information.
