ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – The number 17
th-ranked Shenandoah Hornets took a break from conference play for a non-conference match up with the Elizabethtown Blue Jays. The Hornets (21-11) fell to the Blue Jays by a score of 6-5.
Anthony Arrichiello got the start for the Hornets and cruised through the first inning, but then the field was evacuated for roughly 40 minutes due to lightning and Arrichiello came back after the delay. The Blue Jays got on the board first with two runs in the second, but the Hornets got one back in the third. E-Town put up three runs in the sixth to push the lead to 5-1.
Frankie Ritter's home run in the seventh started the comeback, but the Blue Jays added an insurance run in their half of the seventh. The Hornets picked up three runs in the ninth on four hits, but with the tying run on base, the Blue Jays got the final out.
Winning Pitcher: Justin Marracini (1-1)
Losing Pitcher:
Anthony Arrichiello (2-2)
Save: Zach Silfies (5)
Top Numbers:
Frankie Ritter: 2-4, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 home run, 1 walk
Pearce Bucher: 2-5, 2 RBI
Jaime Padilla: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk
Cole Ambrosius: 1-1, 1 run scored
Andrew Gload: 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk
Jacob Gilbert: 1 IP, 1 hit
Ricky Snyder: .2 IP 0 hits, 1 walk
Brian Ferreira: .1 IP 0 hits
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the top of the first, the Hornets loaded the bases with a walk and two hit by pitches but were not able to capitalize as Shenandoah left them loaded.
- Anthony Arrichiello got the start for the Hornets and got the first batter out on strikes on three pitches, before surrendering a single up the middle. The game was then called for a 40-minute lightning delay, causing both teams to leave. With Arrichiello still on the mound after the delay, a double play got the Hornets out of the inning.
- Scott Wilson drew a two-out walk in the second but was erased trying to steal second.
- For the Blue Jays in the second, a leadoff hit by pitch and single, put two runners on with nobody out. E-Town sacrificed the runners to second and third for the first out of the inning. Jaime Padilla made a diving catch in center for an out, but the Blue Jays struck first. A two-out hit by pitch put runners on the corners, before a single brought the second run home. Arrichiello got the final out with a ground out to Ritter.
- In the third, Frankie Ritter led off with a walk. Jaime Padilla lined out sharply to second causing Ritter to scamper back to first safely. With Pearce Bucher up, Ritter advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then with Connor Houser up, Ritter advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch to get on the board. Houser lined out to first to end the inning.
- Andrew Gload took over in the third for the Hornets and got the first two outs with ground outs, but then surrendered a single to center field. Gload quickly picked that runner off from first to end the inning keeping it a 2-1 game.
- Haden Madagan reached with a leadoff walk but was stranded on second as the Hornets were not able to bring him around to tie the game.
- In the fourth, Gload retired the first two batters easily before surrendering a two-out walk, but then got the next batter to fly out to center to Padilla.
- Michael Meyers took over in the fifth and retired the Blue Jays in order highlighted by a diving stop from Chandler Ballenger with Meyers covering, and then a line out to Ritter to end the inning.
- Pearce Bucher led the sixth off by reaching first on an error from the shortstop. Connor Houser got the bunt down for a sacrifice to get him to second. After Chandler Ballenger was hit by a pitch to put two runners on, E-Town got the final out of the inning to end the threat.
- With Meyers starting the sixth, the first two Blue Jays reached, first on a walk then on a throwing error. Matt House came in to relieve Meyers and got the first out on a sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position. The Hornets intentionally walked the bases loaded, but E-Town singled through the right side with the infield drawn in to make it a 3-1 game. After falling behind 2-0 to the next batter, House came back with three straight strikes for the strikeout. A single to left field brought in two more runs as the Blue Jays extended the lead to 5-1. House got the final out on a ground out to first.
- With two outs in the seventh, Frankie Ritter crushed a home run to left field making it a 5-2 game.
- Dominic Pancione started the seventh but allowed the first two batters to reach with a hit by a pitch and walk before Jacob Gilbert took over. E-Town failed to get the sacrifice bunt down and popped up to Gilbert, but the runners advanced on a wild pitch and then a single brought in another run to put runners on the corners. A stolen base put the two runners in scoring position, but Gilbert got the second out on a shallow fly ball to center. The Hornets got out of the inning with just the one run allowed with a ground out to short.
- Pearce Bucher led the eighth off with a single back up the middle. Connor Houser moved the runner to second on a ground out in the hole between first and second. E-Town got the final two outs and stranded the runner in scoring position
- Ricky Snyder got the eighth inning for the Hornets and walked the leadoff batter. Shenandoah got the first out on a sacrifice bunt to put the runner in scoring position. Snyder got the second out on a fly ball to center, but it was deep enough to advance the runner. Brian Ferreira came in and got the final out with a pop up to Ritter.
- In the ninth with the Hornets down four runs, Kyle Garrett started the inning with a sharp line out to short for the first out. Cole Ambrosious entered as a pinch hitter and singled through the right side. Zach Furtado came in as a pinch hitter and drilled a ball back up the middle, but the pitcher, in self-defense, threw his glove up to make a spectacular catch for the second out. The Blue Jays threw back to first, but the pitcher threw the ball away and Ambrosious went to second. Frankie Ritter singled to third base to put runners on the corners. Jaime Padilla singled as the comeback started to score Ambrosious. A wild pitch put Ritter on third and Padilla on second, before Pearce Bucher singled to left to score the two runs and the Hornets were only down one. However, it was not enough as the comeback fell short and the Blue Jays got the last out to secure the win.
UP NEXT:
The Hornets continue their road trip this weekend as they will travel to Lynchburg for an important conference doubleheader with the University of Lynchburg on Saturday.
#GoSUHornets
