HARRISONBURG, Va. – The 3
rd-ranked Shenandoah Hornets were back in action Tuesday afternoon for a road conference game with Eastern Mennonite University. The Hornets (17-3, 7-2) jumped out to an early 8-0 lead in after the third inning, and went on to take care of the Royals 12-4, just beating the rain. Coming off a busy week of games last week, and with another daunting week of games ahead, the Hornets made some pitching adjustments and
Matt House got the start for the Hornets. House went the first three innings of the game and gave up seven hits and three runs to the Royals and struck out one batter. House gave way to
Jackson Sherman who went a .1, before Ricky Synder came in to pitch the next 2.2 innings and picked up the win. The win was Synder's second of the season. The combination of
Brian Ferreira and
Parker Farrington went the next 1.1 innings before
Joey Mitchell came in for the final 1.2 innings to pick up the save.
Winning Pitcher: Ricky Synder (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Damen Tapscott (1-2)
Save:
Joey Mitchell (1)
Top Numbers:
Jaime Padilla: 3-6, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, 1 double
Pearce Bucher: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, 1 home run
Scott Wilson: 1-3, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI, 1 home run
Ricky Synder: winning pitcher, 2.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 ER, 2 strikeouts
Brian Ferreira: 1.0 IP, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts
Joey Mitchell: save, 1.2 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After the Hornets were retired in order in the top of the first, Matt House took the bump in the bottom half of the inning and worked around a two-out double.
- In the second, Chandler Ballenger was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Peace Bucher quickly gave the Hornets the lead with a big fly to right center.
- House gave up back-to-back singles in the second, but once again escaped with no damage.
- In the third, Jaime Padilla led the inning off with a double to left center field, before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Gavin Horning grounded out to second, allowing Padilla to score easily. Ballenger then singled to the outfield before advancing to second on an error. Bucher singled through the right side as Ballenger went to third to put two runners on with only one out. Haden Madagan kept the inning going with a single to score Ballenger as the lead grew to 4-0. Madagan drew a throw to second and got into a rundown which allowed Bucher to score from third. Jonathan Stokely walked before Brody Pickette reached on an error to put two runners on. Scott Wilson hammered a home run to left field to make it an 8-0 lead.
- In the third, the Royals did their damage with a two-out walk. With runners on the corner, a single through the left side led to the first run. However, a single and double plated two more runners as it was now 8-3.
- Jackson Sherman then started the fourth but gave up a single and a walk before being lifted with one out. Ricky Synder then came in induced a strikeout and fly out to end the threat.
- In the fifth, the Royals added another run after they scored on a lead off single.
- With two outs in the top of the eighth, Padilla singled to put runners on first and third before Horning was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chandler Ballenger then walked as Pickette scored making it 9-4.
- In the top of the ninth, the Hornets added three more insurance runs when Brody Pickette was hit by a pitch with two outs. Scott Wilson reached on an error to put two runners on. Frankie Ritter singled as Pickette scored. Ritter stole second before he and Wilson scored on a wild pitch.
- Joey Mitchell, who came on in the bottom of the eighth, gave up a lead off single in the ninth. He then got the next two batters to strike out before Wilson caught a line drive at second to end the game.
UP NEXT:
It is a quick turnaround for the Hornets as their busy week continues at home tomorrow when Dickinson will come to
Kevin Anderson Field with the first pitch scheduled for 3:30 pm.
#GoSUHornets
