VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The number 3 ranked Hornet baseball team dropped a conference doubleheader against Virginia Wesleyan on the road on Saturday by scores of 5-2 and 9-5. The Hornets (18-6, 7-4) sent
Jacob Bell to the mound in game one, and with his first strikeout in the first inning reached 150 strikeouts for his career. Bell went 6.1 innings but surrendered two long balls as the Marlins took the lead in the seventh inning. In game two, after falling behind in the first inning, the Hornets scored four runs in the second before surrendering the lead again late in the seventh inning.
Nick Bell started game two and pitched 6 innings striking out four batters. The Hornets only had two extra-base hits in the entire series, as they were held to only three hits in game one.
Game One:
Winning Pitcher: Ian Brady (3-1)
Losing Pitcher:
Jacob Bell (5-2)
Save: Ryan Cowell (3)
Top Numbers:
Matt House: 1-4, 1 double
Chandler Ballenger: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 1 stolen base
Jaime Padilla: 1-4, 1 run scored
Jonathan Stokely: 0-3, 1 RBI
Jacob Bell: 6.1 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 4 ER, 5 strikeouts
Jacob Gilbert: .2 IP, 2 strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Hornets went quietly in the first in order. In the bottom of the first, the Marlins got a leadoff walk. The runner stole second before Bell picked up his first strikeout of the game. A flyball out moved the runner to third. Bell then gave up back-to-back walks to load the bases, but got out of the inning with no damage.
- Again, the Hornets went down in order in the second, as Bell did the same to the Marlins in the second.
- The Hornet offense was retired in order in the third. The Marlins struck first in the third with a one-out single up the middle. The next batter hit a two-run shot to put Wesleyan up 2-0.
- The Hornets finally got on the board in the fifth when Chandler Ballenger led the inning off with a home run. With one out, Jaime Padilla singled to left field and then stole second. Brody Pickette grounded out but was able to move Padilla to third. Jonathan Stokely reached first on an error which allowed Padilla to score to tie the game.
- Bell had a shutdown, 1-2-3 inning in the fifth to keep the game tied at 2.
- In the seventh, the Hornets had a shot to take the lead when Chandler Ballenger reached first on an error and then stole second. Padilla then reached on an error to put runners on the corner with only one out, but the Marlins escaped the inning getting the final two outs.
- Bell got the first out in the bottom of the seventh but then gave up a home run and a walk before he got lifted for Ricky Synder. Synder got the first batter he faced to strikeout but a single to center allowed the walk to come around to score making it 4-2.
- Matt House doubled in the eighth but was stranded in scoring position as the Hornets were down to their final at-bat.
- The Marlins added an insurance run in their half of the eighth after a hit by a pitch and a single put two runners on with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt, the runner on third scored on a wild pitch.
- In their last effort, the Hornets were retired in the ninth and fell in game one 5-2.
Game Two
Winning Pitcher: Jack McDowell (4-1)
Losing Pitcher:
Kody Dobyns (0-1)
Top Numbers:
Scott Wilson: 2-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
Jake Troutner: 2-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
Gavin Horning: 2-4
Jaime Padilla: 1-4, 2 runs scored
Luke Keister: 1-3, 1 RBI
Nick Bell: 6 IP, 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 ER, 4 strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Hornets went down in order in the first, while the Marlins got a one-out single. A groundout advanced the runner to third. The runner came around to score on a single making it 1-0 Marlins in the first.
- In the second, Jaime Padilla led the inning off with a single to left field. Haden Madagan singled to left field as Padilla went to third. A pitch hit Scott Wilson to load the bases with nobody out. Jake Troutner drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 1. Luke Keister singled to right field as Madagan came around to score. Frankie Ritter hit a sacrifice fly to right field as Wilson was able to score. Gavin Horning got hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Chandler Ballenger walked as the Hornets now led 4-1.
- Bell retired the Marlins in order in the second and worked around a single and walk in the third, but got out of the inning on a double play.
- In the fifth, the Hornets added a run with a Ballenger single to right field before being erased on a fielder's choice. Padilla stole second and came around to score on Scott Wilson's single up the middle.
- The Marlins got a run back in the fifth with a leadoff single. That runner advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a two-out single.
- In the bottom of the seventh, the Marlins led the inning off with an infield single, before the next batter singled to put two runners on. Bell was lifted for Anthony Arrichiello who walked the only batter he saw. Kody Dobyns entered the game and gave up back-to-back home runs, a grand slam, and a solo shot as the Marlins took a 7-5 lead.
- In the bottom of the eighth, the Marlins added two more runs on two hits and a walk, before the Hornets went quietly in the ninth.
UP NEXT
The Hornets return home after a long week of games for the conclusion of the Washington and Lee series on Wednesday afternoon at
Kevin Anderson Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 pm.
#GoSUHornets
