WINCHESTER, Va. – Catholic University of America advanced to the 2022 Winchester Regional Championship game with a 6-5 victory over Shenandoah University Saturday afternoon.
Catholic (31-12) scored two runs each in the second, third, and sixth innings to send Shenandoah (35-10-1) into a Saturday night elimination contest versus St. Joseph's of Long Island.
IN BRIEF
The Hornets had a chance to tie in the ninth, putting their first two runners on base, but saw CUA closer Matt Tesoriero get out of it with a popout on an attempted sacrifice bunt, a flyout to right and a fielder's choice at second base.
Tesoriero's second save of the season made a winner of Cormac Terry. Terry (2-0) came on in the middle of the fifth and allowed two runs on three hits and one walk in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Those two runs came off the bat of Shenandoah first baseman
Pearce Bucher, who made the score 6-5 with a two-run home run to left in the top of the seventh.
The Hornets trailed by three runs at that point as CUA pinch hitter Billy Duke took the first offering he saw over the right field fence for a two-run home run.
Bucher, who extended his hitting streak to 34 games, finished the contest 3-for-5 with four runs batted in.
Designated hitter
Gavin Horning, who homered in the third for SU, matched Bucher with three hits.
Calvin Pastel, the Hornets starter, took the loss. Pastel (7-1) gave up four runs on seven hits in two innings of work.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah plays a 6:15 p.m. elimination game versus St. Joseph's of Long Island.
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