LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Shenandoah Hornets traveled down to the University of Lynchburg Hornets for a pivotal conference doubleheader late in the season to determine postseason positioning. Shenandoah came away with a split over the defending National Champions Lynchburg. The Hornets (22-12, 11-8) took game one by a score of 6-4 before falling in the nightcap 3-2.
Jacob Bell got the start in game one and went 7.2 innings to pick up his sixth win of the season before giving way to
Joey Mitchell who went the final 1.1 innings.
Chandler Ballenger had two RBI's in the game, with Padilla, Pickette, and Ritter all picking up an RBI. In game two,
Nick Bell got the start and went 6 innings before giving way to
Anthony Arrichiello for the final 2 innings.
Haden Madagan and
Matt House were the only Hornets with multiple hits in the game with House and
Brody Pickette picking up the two RBI's.
Game One:
Winning Pitcher:
Jacob Bell (6-2)
Losing Pitcher: Wesley Arrington (4-2)
Top Numbers:
Chandler Ballenger: 3-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBI
Jaime Padilla: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 double, 1 walk
Haden Madagan: 2-4, 2 runs scored
Brody Pickette: 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk
Frankie Ritter: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI,
Pearce Bucher: 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 double
Jacob Bell: winning pitcher, 7.2 IP, 6 hits, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 strikeouts, 5 walks
Joey Mitchell: 1.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 R, 1 ER
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both sets of Hornets went down in order in the first, with Jacob Bell getting the start for Shenandoah.
- In the second, Shenandoah went down in order again, while Bell worked around a 2-out walk.
- After both teams had nothing brewing in the third, Frankie Ritter got the first hit for the Hornets in the fourth. Jaime Padilla followed that up with a double to put two runners in scoring position. Chandler Ballenger singled up the middle as both runners scored, but Lynchburg used a double play to get out of any further jam.
- Bell had a shutdown inning in the fourth and worked around a two-out single and walk as Shenandoah continued to lead 2-0 heading to the fifth.
- Brody Pickette drew a two-out walk but was stranded on base for Shenandoah.
- With one out in the fifth for Lynchburg, drew a walk and stole second. A single through the right side tested the arm of Gavin Horning as he threw a strike to plate to nail the runner at home to keep Lynchburg off the board and avoid any threat.
- With two outs in the sixth, Shenandoah added an insurance run. Chandler Ballenger singled, and after advancing to second a wild pitch, scored on Pearce Bucher's double.
- Bell retired the Hornets in order in the bottom of the sixth, to keep it 3-0.
- In the seventh, Gavin Horning led the inning off with a single to right center, before Haden Madagan had an infield single to the shortstop. Both runners advanced to score position after a wild pitch. Brody Pickette singled to score Horning before Matt House singled to right which scored Madagan making it a 5-0 game.
- A one-out single in the seventh was all that Lynchburg could get off of Bell as the Hornets still led 5-0.
- Jaime Padilla led the eighth off with a walk before Ballenger singled to center as Padilla advanced to third. Pearce Bucher grounded out to third, but that ball allowed Padilla to score. That was the only run Shenandoah picked up as Lynchburg got out of the inning.
- Lynchburg made it interesting in the bottom half of the inning, with a lead-off triple to left center. A ground out to second scored the run from third, for Lynchburg's first run. Bell got the next batter to ground out, but could not get out of the inning. After a single and walk, Bell's day would be finished as he gave way to Joey Mitchell. Lynchburg used a single and double off of Mitchell to score three runs and make it a 6-4 lead for Shenandoah.
- In the ninth, Shenandoah picked up an insurance run starting with Haden Madagan singling through the left side. Pickette was asked to sacrifice bunt but turned that into a single to put two runners on with nobody out. Matt House got down the sacrifice bunt to move the runners to scoring position before Frankie Ritter hit a sac fly to left to score Madagan. Padilla did single but Lynchburg picked up an outfield assist to throw Pickette out at the plate.
- Mitchell worked around a lead off single to get the remaining three outs and secure the game-one victory for the Hornets.
Game Two:
Winning Pitcher: Nick Mattfield (4-2)
Losing Pitcher:
Nick Bell (2-3)
Save: Nathanial Mack (2)
Top Numbers:
Haden Madagan: 2-4, 1 run scored
Matt House: 2-3, 1 RBI
Gavin Horning: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 double
Nick Bell: 6 IP, 9 hits, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk
Anthony Arrichiello: 2 IP, 2 hits, 1 strikeout
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- It was a slow start offensively for the Hornets after a game-one win as they were retired in order in the first inning.
- Nick Bell got the start and worked around a single and a hit-by-pitch to leave two runners stranded on the bases.
- The Hornets got their first hit of the game from Haden Madagan, but that was all Shenandoah could produce in the second.
- In the bottom of the second Lynchburg jumped on the board first with two runs. A walk and a double, put two runners in scoring position with one out. A fielder's choice got the first run home for Lynchburg before back-to-back singles scored the second.
- The Hornets had their best chance of the game in the third when Matt House singled and stole second, Jaime Padilla walked as did Chandler Ballenger to load the bases with two outs. Lynchburg secured the final out of the inning via a flyout to end any threat.
- Bell settled down and breezed through the third in order before Lynchburg retired Shenandoah in order in the fourth.
- Back-to-back one-out singles for Lynchburg were erased with an inning-ending double play starting with Pearce Bucher to Matt House to Chandler Ballenger.
- With nothing cooking for Shenandoah in the fifth, Lynchburg added a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to increase their lead to 3-0.
- In the seventh, The Hornets started the comeback. Haden Madagan singled with one out before Gavin Horning doubled to left. Brody Pickette hit a sac fly to center as Madagan crossed the plate. Matt House singled to plate Horning and it was a one-run game heading to the bottom of the seventh.
- Anthony Arrichiello took over for Nick Bell and got out of the inning only surrendering a two-out single.
- In the eighth, Chandler Ballenger singled to third before Pearce Bucher singled off the pitcher, the ball scooted past the infield and Ballenger went to the third. Connor Houser hit a fly ball to left field, but Ballenger was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
- With one out, Arrichiello surrendered a single, but then the Hornets turned a double play of their own to get out of the inning and head to the ninth.
- The comeback fell short in the ninth, as the Hornets were retired to secure the doubleheader split.
UP NEXT:
The Hornets return home on Tuesday for a single conference game to wrap up the series with Eastern Mennonite as the season continues to wind down. First pitch on Tuesday will be at 3 pm.
#GoSUHornets
