WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University got a stellar pitching performance from junior Taylor DuFrene to key a 4-0 USA South Conference baseball victory over league leader Methodist University Friday afternoon.

DuFrene (3-2) struck out a career-high 14, including six in a row from the third through fifth innings, to keep the Monarchs (22-9, 6-5 USA South) from clinching the regular season title. The junior had at least one strikeout in every inning except the first and the ninth. He allowed just two runners to reach scoring position and at one point retired ten hitters in a row.

Shenandoah (20-9, 5-6 USA South) cannot win the regular season title, but kept its hopes for a top-half seed alive with the victory. In one of the closest league races in league history, the Hornets had entered Friday's play in sixth place. If SU is able to complete the sweep against the Monarchs tomorrow, it could finish as high tied for second place.

The conference tournament begins on Thursday in Burlington, N.C.

After putting runners on base in the first, third and fourth innings, Shenandoah finally broke through in the fifth.

Junior Drew Crawford singled to left with one out, stole second and moved to third on a Preston Tarleton groundout to short.

Senior Daniel Ziccardy then lined a Kurt Kelly offering into centerfield for his second hit of the game, allowing Crawford to trot home with the first run of the game.

That solitary was enough for DuFrene (3-2), who tossed a two-hit complete game shutout.

Two innings after scoring their initial run of the contest, the Hornets made it 2-0 courtesy of junior David Divine. Divine, who entered this week with four career hits, knocked his fourth home run of the week with a solo shot to left.

Shenandoah then completed its offense by chasing Kelly (2-5) in the eighth. David Jenkins began the rally by getting a one-out single and moved to third on Ryan Anderson's double down the left field line. Kelly departed in favor of lefty Freddie Geisinger, who gave up a bloop single to Adam Kessel that brought home both Jenkins and Anderson.

Anderson, Kessel and Ziccardy all were 2-for-4 with Kessel driving in a game-high two runs.

Box Score 

These two teams complete their series tomorrow afternoon with a 1:00 game.