WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team had a non-conference midweek game with the University of Mary Washington Eagles. Although the Hornets took part in a bit of Division III history, ultimately the Eagles walked away with the win. Shenandoah (20-9) lost to the Eagles 12-8, even though
Frankie Ritter became the all-time Division III hits leader with 328.
Michael Meyers got the start for the Hornets and went 4.2 innings while giving up six runs and eight hits. Meyers gave way to
Kody Dobyns, who 2 innings and took the loss.
Jackson Sherman came on to get the final out of the inning before Anthony Arrchiello went 1.1 innings giving up two hits and two runs before
Jacob Gilbert got the last two outs for the Hornets. Eight different Hornets picked up hits in the game led by
Frankie Ritter's two hits to make him the all-time hits leader in Division III baseball.
Winning Pitcher: Jackson Beale (2-0)
Losing Pitcher:
Kody Dobyns (0-2)
Top Numbers:
Frankie Ritter: 2-3, 3 walks
Chandler Ballenger: 2-5, 1 run scored, 1 double
Haden Madagan: 1-5, 1 run scored, 4 RBI, grand slam
Brody Pickette: 1-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, home run
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Eagles led the game off with a single through the right side. After getting the next batter, UMW doubled to put two runners on with only one out. Meyers then walked back-to-back batters to walk in a run and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
- Frankie Ritter picked up a lead-off single to become the all-time D3 hits leader. Kyle Garrett followed that with a single to put two runners on and nobody out. Jaime Padilla drew a walk to load the bases, but then three straight outs kept it a 1-0 game.
- In the second, the Eagles took advantage of another leadoff hit and then a walk before a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with only one out. A ground out to short and a single made it a 3-0 game.
- Meyers settled down in the third and retired the Eagles in order.
- A lead-off walk to Kyle Garrett, followed by singles from Padilla and Bucher loaded the bases for Haden Madagan. Madagan blasted a grand slam over the left field fence to give the Hornets the lead 4-3. The home run was Madagan's team-leading eighth home run.
- Meyers worked around a leadoff double in the fourth to leave the runner stranded in scoring position.
- The Hornets had three walks in the bottom of the fourth but the Eagles escaped still down 4-3 heading to the fifth.
- In the fifth, Meyers got the first batter out, but then surrendered back-to-back singles. A fielder's choice put runners on the corner with two outs, but then Mary Washington hit a three-run home run to regain a 6-4 lead.
- Jonathan Stokely walked with two outs before Brody Pickette blasted a homer of his own to tie the game at six.
- In the seventh, Mary Washington retook the lead after a walk and a single, before the runner scored on a fielder's choice. A single loaded the bases before the Eagles pushed home another run on a sacrifice fly. Jackson Sherman relieved Kody Dobyns and surrendered a bases-loaded walk to make it a 9-6 lead.
- Chandler Ballenger singled for a leadoff single in the seventh. Andrew Falk entered as a pinch hitter and he singled up the middle. Brody Pickette drew a walk to load the bases. Connor Houser entered as a pinch hitter and grounded out to the first, but Ballenger was able to score. Ritter and Garrett drew walks which forced another run in for the Hornets and it was a one-run game again.
- The Eagles added an insurance run in the eighth and two in the ninth, and even though the Hornets picked up back-to-back hits in the bottom of the eighth from Pearce Bucher and Chandler Ballenger, Shenandoah could not get another hit and left two runners on.
- Frankie Ritter picked up another hit in the ninth before a pitch hit Garrett, but Mary Washington got the final two outs of the inning and that was the game as the Hornets fell 12-8.
UP NEXT:
The busy week for the Hornets continues as Randolph-Macon comes to town on Saturday for a doubleheader in a very important conference series. First pitch on Saturday is set for noon.
#GoSUHornets
