WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team started the first of the final series of the regular season on Saturday at home as the Ferrum College Panthers came to town. The Hornets (24-13, 13-8) came back after being down 2-0 early in the second to secure an 8-5 win over the Panthers.
Jacob Bell got the start and went the first five innings giving up eight hits and five runs.
Anthony Arrichiello went the next three innings only giving up a hit with two strikeouts before
Joey Mitchell came in for the scoreless, hit less ninth for the save.
Matt House,
Brody Pickette,
Chandler Ballenger, and
Jaime Padilla all had two hits for the Hornets while Padilla and Pickette each had multiple RBI. One more win over Ferrum tomorrow will solidify a first-round home playoff series next weekend,
Winning Pitcher:
Jacob Bell (7-2)
Losing Pitcher: Raleigh Walker (2-5)
Save:
Joey Mitchell (3)
Top Numbers:
Jaime Padilla: 2-4, 1 run scored, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 1 walk
Brody Pickette: 2-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, 1 walk
Chandler Ballenger: 2-5, 1 RBI
Frankie Ritter: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 double, 1 walk
Haden Madagan: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 double
Jacob Bell: 5 IP, winning pitcher, 8 hits, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
Anthony Arrichiello: 3 IP, 1 hit, 0 R
Joey Mitchelle: save, 1 IP, 0 hit
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jacob Bell got the start on the mound for the Hornets and gave up a lead-off double down the right-field line. That batter moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A line drive past a diving Ritter drove the first run in for the Panthers. Ferrum, who is very aggressive on the base paths, ran into the second out as Brody Pickette threw out another run trying to steal second. Another single to the outfield put runners on the corners with two outs. Bell got a ground ball as Pearce Bucher made a great stop to save a run and get out of the inning.
- Frankie Ritter led the bottom of the inning off with a walk but was erased on a fielder's choice to short. Chandler Ballenger continued his hot hitting with a single past a diving shortstop as there were now two runners on with an out. The Panther pitcher retired the next two hitters to strike out and end the inning.
- For the second inning in a row, Ferrum led off with a double, this time down the left-field line. Also, the Panthers got the bunt down for the second inning in a row. A line drive to Gavin Horning was the second out, and Horning came up firing, but the throw was just late as the Panthers pushed the second run across.
- Four straight hits for the Hornets is how the bottom of the second started. First, Connor Houser had an infield single through the right side, and Haden Madagan barely missed a home run by feet, but did get a double out of the at-bat. Brody Pickette singled through the left side to get the first run, before Matt House sent a ball back up the middle to tie the game. Frankie Ritter got the sacrifice bunt down to put two runners in scoring position. Jaime Padilla singled home both runs, but on the throw home, he was caught in no man's land trying to advance to second and got tagged out on the play. The Hornets now led 4-2 going to the third.
- In the third, Padilla robbed an extra-base hit in right-center for the first out, before Bell gave up a double with one out. Bucher got a chopper to third and did a great job holding the runner at second, as the out was retired at first. However, a passed ball moved the runner to third before a two-out walk put two runners on. Bell got a lazy fly ball to Madagan to end the inning and the Hornets still led 4-2.
- Bell got the first out of the fourth on one pitch, but then an error and a swinging bunt put two runners on. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs, but another ground ball to Bucher, who has had a busy day so far, got the final out of the inning.
- With two outs in the fourth, Matt House picked up his second hit of the game. House promptly stole second and easily strolled home on a bullet of a double from Ritter. Jaime Padilla then singled to the third baseman, causing him to dive to stop it, but then used his speed to beat the throw. On the play, Ritter never stopped running and scored. Padilla stole second and scored on a line-drive single from Ballenger. Ballenger was stranded on first, but the Hornets added three more runs to make it 7-2.
- Bell gave up a lead off single in the fifth but then retired the next two batters before a two-out walk put two runners on. Ferrum then cut into the lead with a three-run shot making it a 7-5 game, but Bell got out of the inning without any further damage.
- Gavin Horning took the first pitch he saw and muscled a ball up the middle for a lead off single. The Hornets put a hit and run on, as Horning went in motion and stayed out of a double play on a ground ball to first. Brody Pickette sent a ball to right center and Horning came racing around third to score making it 8-5. Brody Pickette advanced to second on a wild pitch but was stranded on second.
- Anthony Arrichiello took over for Bell in the sixth and retired the side in order on six pitches.
- After the Hornets went down in order in the sixth, Arrichiello sat the Panthers down for a second straight inning.
- A one-out, four-pitch walk put Gavin Horning on first. Horning then stole second, and advanced to third on a fly-out from Connor Houser. Horning then was stranded on third, as the Hornets could not add another insurance run.
- After retiring the first batter of the eighth, Arrichiello gave up his first hit of his outing. The Panthers stole second and advanced to third on a ground out to second for the second out of the inning. A grounder to first ended the inning as the Hornets held their 8-5 lead.
- After a lead off walk to Pickette, the Panthers finally went to their bullpen. Matt House got the bunt down to move Pickette to scoring position with only one out. Another grounder moved Pickette 90 feet for a huge insurance run, but the Hornets could not tack anymore on.
- Arrichiello went out for the start of his fourth inning, but Ferrum sent a pinch-hit righty to the plate, and the Hornets countered with Joey Mitchell to try and get this save. Mitchell got the first batter on strikes. A weak ground ball back to Mitchell was the second out of the inning. Mitchell then induced a fly ball to right, as Horning made the squeeze to end the game.
UP NEXT:
The Hornets will wrap up the regular season conference schedule with game two against Ferrum. First pitch for that game is slated for noon.
#GoSuHorning
