WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Shenandoah University baseball team celebrated its return into the nation's top 10 with a 17-8 non-league victory at Marymount University Tuesday afternoon.
Playing at the Nationals Youth Academy, the No. 9/15 Hornets (6-1), who jumped into the No. 9 spot in the D3baseball.com rankings this morning, busted open a tie game with an eight-run eighth over the Saints (5-5).
Neil Dutton provided the big blow in the frame with a grand slam home run that gave SU a five-run cushion.
Dutton's grand slam was one of two on the day for coach Kevin Anderson's club. In the seventh, Abel Arocho knotted the game at 7-7 with a grand slam that plated John Wilt, Tristan Baker and Joe Coleman.
Arocho's four-bagger was one of four hits on the day for the junior. He singled in the third, fifth and ninth, driving in runs each time, and was walked and hit by pitch in two additional trips to the plate.
Shenandoah had 14 hits on the day with all nine starters getting at least one and Jake Loew hitting safely twice.
Jake Makowski drove in two runs with with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth.
Senior Ryan Mossman (2-0) earned the win with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief. Starter CJ Morton had three strikeouts and reliever Steve Jones two with each throwing 2 2/3 innings.
The Hornets return home this weekend for a three-game set Saturday and Sunday with CCNY. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon.
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