HARRISONBURG, Pa.--The Hood College softball team (5-10) rapped out 10 hits and put together a six-run sixth inning but it was not enough as Eastern Mennonite University (15-2) plated seven runs in the bottom of the frame and came away with a 9-7 victory Tuesday afternoon.

The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled due to lightning. Hood put up a valiant effort against the Royals, a team which bested 2011 national runner-up Christopher Newport University at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast earlier this month.

Jackie Wenzel, Amy Hagerdon, Kelly Gafner and Kali Ball collected two hits each while Wenzel, Hagerdon and Jackie Yurchak all drove in runs for the Blazers.

Hood got on the board in the top of the third. Wenzel reached on a one-out single and Hagerdon doubled to put runners at second and third. The umpire called an illegal pitch on Royal starter Jordan Aylor, allowing Wenzel to score to make it 2-1 EMU.

After two scoreless innings, Hood plated six runs on six base hits and two Royal errors in the top of the sixth. Gafner led off the inning with a single and came around to score the tying run on an error by Aylor. Yurchak, Wenzel and Hagerdon all registered RBI-singles in the inning. Wenzel scored on a defensive miscue by EMU and Hagerdon scored the Blazers' sixth run on a wild pitch.

The Royals put together a big inning of their own in the bottom of the frame. EMU batted around and scored seven runs on eight base hits. After the first two batters singled to lead off the inning, Gafner appeared to snare a line drive at first and started an apparent triple play. But the umpire ruled that Gafner short-hopped the ball and the Blazers settled for the lone out at first base. From there, the Royals collected five straight hits and when the dust settled eight batters later, the Blazers found themselves trailing 9-7 entering the top of the seventh.

Lisa Lee came in to relieve Aylor in the circle and gave up a leadoff double to Emalie Stroup and walked Ball. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Lee settled in and struck out the next two Blazer hitters and retired Wenzel on a grounder to second to retire the side and pick up the save.

Jennifer Rutherford (3-3) took the loss in the circle but did not surrender a walk on the day.

After five weeks of road and neutral site contests to start the season, the Blazers finally host their first home games of the season Saturday when they open Capital Athletic Conference action against the Wesley College Wolverines in a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m.