WINCHESTER, Va. – No. 23/27 Shenandoah University won its fifth straight baseball game Monday afternoon with an 18-13 non-league victory over Elizabethtown College.
Shenandoah (5-1) was forced to rally with five runs in the seventh after coughing up an eight-run lead to the Blue Jays (0-3).
The Hornets, on the strength of an eight-run second and four more in the fifth, looked to be cruising to the victory.
Unfortunately, Elizabethtown had other ideas.
The 'Jays had their first nine men that came to the plate in the seventh reach base safely and hit a pair of three-run home runs to tie the game at 13-13.
Shenandoah went through four pitchers in the frame and did not get out of it until sophomore closer Matt Riegler (1-0) got a strikeout and a groundout to finally put out the fire.
SU answered in the bottom half of the inning with five runs on three hits – sophomore Michael Paul put his club on stop to stay with a two-run double to left center.
Freshman Ricky Pardo completed the inning with a three-run home run that went off the top of the fence in left.
Prior to the seventh, Shenandoah did most of its damage in the second – the Hornets sent 11 men to the plate and scored eight runs on six extra base hits.
Sophomore Daniel Freshley got matters started with a solo HR to left and on his second at-bat of the frame, drilled a double into the left-center gap for the final run of the inning.
In between those two hits, SU had two triples and two doubles along with a walk, a hit batsman and one batter reaching via error on an attempted sacrifice.
The Hornets added four more runs on three hits and another E-town error in the fifth – junior Andrew Creamer drove in a pair with a one-out single up the middle.
Riegler worked a scoreless eighth and ninth to secure his first victory of the spring.
Freshman Phillip Morse was in position for the win, having left with a 12-4 lead, but was left with a no decision after Elizabethtown rallied in the seventh.
Morse allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks in 5.0 innings of work while striking out three and retiring eight of the final nine batters he faced in order.
The Hornets had 16 hits on the night with all nine starters getting at least one hit. Centerfielder Corbin Lucas finished his day 4 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Eight of the nine SU starters also drove in at least one run each.
Shenandoah opens up ODAC play on Sunday at Roanoke in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
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