Melendez, a freshman from Lansdale, Pa., had a strong debut for the Royals, batting .571 in his first doubleheader, including a 1.429 slugging percentage.  The Royals' lead-off hitter reached base in seven of his first 10 plate appearances, posting a .700 on-base percentage.  For the week, Melendez hit 4-for-7 with three walks, three doubles and a homerun.  He scored four runs and knocked in three while stealing one base.  In his first game, he accounted for both of the Royals’ runs, scoring one and knocking in the other.  He added the homer, EMU’s first of the season, in his second game, a 9-1 victory over NC Wesleyan.

Baseball Player Honor Roll

Darren Yoder, Bridgewater, Freshman, Outfielder
Yoder had a strong collegiate debut this past weekend as the Eagles swept N.C. Wesleyan. In the opener, Yoder was 1-for-2 with a run scored, a stolen base and a walk. In the second game, he was 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. His bases loaded triple in the second inning staked the Eagles to a 3-0 lead in a game they won 17-1.

Kent Peterson, Guilford, Junior, Third Base
Peterson hit .625 with a double and two RBI in the Quakers’ 1-1 start… walked twice and had a .700 on-base percentage… matched his career high with four hits, including a double, two RBI and three runs in Guilford’s win over Division II Bluefield State… had one of Guilford’s five hits in the Quakers’ season opener with Greensboro.

Erik Herrmann, Hampden-Sydney, Senior, First Base
Herrmann has been a consistent threat at the plate for the Tigers this season, recording at least one hit in all five games. He has also scored at least one run in four games. He has tallied seven hits with two doubles and a homerun, five runs, and three RBI in 17 at bats. Herrmann was able to knock in two runs while score one of his own against #7 Christopher Newport. This past weekend, Herrmann went 4-for-7 from the plate with three runs and one double.  He is 7-for-17 overall to start the season.

Brock Shiflett, Lynchburg, Junior, First Base/Outfielder
Shiflett went 4-8 this weekend in two games. On Saturday, he went 2-4 with four RBI in Lynchburg’s 8-6 comeback victory over Averett. Shiflett went 2-4 on Sunday at Greensboro, scoring once and knocking in another RBI for an early season total of five.

Matt Musser, Randolph-Macon, Senior, Catcher
Musser went 3-3 in the Yellow Jackets' season-opening 4-3 win over St. Mary's.  He had two singles, including a bunt single, and a run-scoring triple in the second inning for the game's first run.