WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University Hornets swept both of their games in day two of the Mr. V Memorial Classic presented by United Bank. In game one, the Hornets took care of Susquehanna 11-2 behind
Michael Meyers 6.1 innings pitched.
Frankie Ritter went 4-4 with three runs scored and a walk in the first game.
Jaime Padilla went 2-3 with three runs scored, two walks, and an RBI.
Gavin Horning was the other Hornet that picked up multiple hits going 2-5 with 4 RBIs and a run scored. In the nightcap, Shenandoah beat Eastern Connecticut State 5-1 behind a complete game, three-hit, one-run, seven-strikeout performance from
Jacob Bell.
Frankie Ritter went 3-3 to continue his perfect on-base streak for the weekend and with his first hit in game two, Ritter picked up his 300
th hit in his career.
Jaime Padilla went 2-4 again with a walk.
Matt House also went 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Pearce Bucher picked up a hit in each game as he extended his hitting streak to nine games to start the season.
Game 1:
Winning Pitcher:
Michael Meyers (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Aidan Martin (0-2)
Top Numbers:
Frankie Ritter: 4-4, 3 runs scored, 1 walk
Jaime Padilla: 2-3, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 walks
Gavin Horning: 2-5, 4 RBIs, 1 run scored
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michael Meyers took the ball for the Hornets in game one of day two of the Mr. V Memorial Classic and gave up a single in the top of the first, but had no problem getting out of that half inning. In the bottom of the first, the Hornets had traffic on the basepaths but could not cash in and the game went to the second scoreless.
The Hornets got their first run in the second after
Noah Cornwell reached first after reaching on a wild pitch, he was able to advance to second on another wild pitch.
Luke Keister then singled up the middle and he was able to plate Cornwell and the Hornets took a 1-0 lead.
Meyers retired the River Hawks in order in the third. Two straight hits from the Hornets, Ritter, and Padilla put runners two runners with nobody out.
Pearce Bucher singled to plate Ritter.
Gavin Horning then doubled to plate both Bucher and Padilla and the Hornets increased their lead to 4-0 heading to the fourth.
The River Hawks picked up their first run in the fourth after a leadoff single. The Hornets continued to add to their lead in the home half of the fourth with
Jaime Padilla singled through the left side to score
Luke Keister, who reached on a fielder's choice.
Chandler Ballenger followed that up with a single of his own to score Ritter.
Pearce Bucher reached on an error to score Padilla and the Hornets were in control comfortably, 7-1.
Brian Ferreira took over for Meyers in the seventh after Meyers was hit with a ball. Ferreira quickly got the remaining two outs of the innings keeping the River Hawks off the board. Susquehanna did capitalize on two hits and a wild pitch in the top of the eighth to plate their second run of the game, but Ferreira was able to work around any further trouble.
Shenandoah put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth scoring four runs on two hits, three walks, and two wild pitches. Ritter led off with his fourth hit of the game and advanced to third on a Ballenger groundball. With the bases loaded,
Gavin Horning singled to right field to plate Ritter and Padilla. Bucher and Horning came around to score on the two wild pitches and the Hornets led 11-2.
Jacob Gilbert closed out the ninth for the Hornets and worked around two walks and a hit batter to leave the bases loaded to end the game.
Game 2:
Winning Pitcher:
Jacob Bell (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Dylan Scudder (0-1)
Top Numbers:
Frankie Ritter: 3-3, 2 runs scored, 2 walks (7-7 for the day, 11-11 for the weekend, reached safely in 15 straight plate appearances)
Jaime Padilla: 2-4, 1 walk
Matt House: 2-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
Jacob Bell: 9 IP, 1 run, 1 ER, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk
HOW IT HAPPENED
Frankie Ritter led the bottom of the first off with a triple before
Jaime Padilla drew a walk.
Gavin Horning grounded out but was able to plate Ritter as the Hornets quickly took a 1-0 lead in the first.
In the second,
Anthony Arrichiello doubled with two outs and then came around to score on
Matt House's single to center field.
Jacob Bell continued to cruise through the Warriors in the third. After another leadoff single from Ritter in the bottom of the third, the grad student stole second and then third, but was gunned out at the plate trying to score on a ball hit from
Gavin Horning. After Horning stole second, he came around to score on
Chandler Ballenger's single to center field, and the Hornets led 3-0 going to the fourth.
In the fifth, the Warriors got their run off a lead-off walk and a double, but Bell did strike out the side. In the bottom of the seventh, the Hornets added two more insurance runs. With the bases loaded,
Gavin Horning got hit by a pitch for the second consecutive day. Then with the bases still loaded,
Chandler Ballenger hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate
Frankie Ritter.
Jacob Bell had no problem retiring the last six Warriors in order and the Hornets took game two of the day 5-1.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will wrap up the Mr. V Memorial Classic on Sunday with one more game against Susquehanna. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
#GoSUHornets
