WINCHESTER, Va. – The No. 8/20 Shenandoah University baseball team made a cliché come to life Wednesday afternoon in its 3-2 non-conference home victory over Messiah College.

“It ain't over 'til it's over.”

Shenandoah (17-5), having already made 27 outs in the contest, got a walk-off single from sophomore Jake Pendergraft to score first baseman Cory Nelson with the game-winning run and steal the game from the Falcons (6-7).

Four batters prior to Pendergraft's hit (his first of the season in six at-bats), SU looked to be headed to its second straight defeat as MC closer Elliott Thomas (0-2) had struck out both Greg Van Sickler and Scott Van Dusseldorp to come within one out of locking down a 2-1 win.

Hornets skipper Kevin Anderson sent junior Mike Smith up to pinch hit, and Thomas struck him out as well on a 2-2 pitch in the dirt.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Messiah catcher David Adams couldn't block the pitch and Smith advanced all the way to second base to put the tying run in scoring position.

Following a walk to Nelson, senior Brett Donahue pinch hit and reached on a throwing error by Falcons shortstop John Brubaker that allowed pinch runner Mike Minch (in for Smith) to score from second.

 That brought Pendergraft to the plate, and he took Thomas' first offering through the drawn-in infield for the game-winning hit.

Pendergraft's heroics made a winner of sophomore Kyle Scallion (3-0), who recorded the final four outs of the game for SU.

The two teams had five hits apiece and after Shenandoah scored one in the first and Messiah two in the second, the game was scoreless until Minch trotted home on the throwing error.

SU completes this stretch of non-conference games tomorrow afternoon with a 4:00 contest against St. Joseph's (L.I.).

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