TYSONS, Va. – With the Shenandoah's playoff lives up against the wall, the Hornets and Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets faced off in the first elimination game of the second-weekend series. In the regular season, the Hornets and Yellow Jackets split in their doubleheader in Winchester, with Shenandoah taking the first game before falling in the nightcap. In an exciting elimination game,
Jacob Bell went the first six innings giving up seven hits and seven runs after the Hornets built a 10-0.
Joey Mitchell after suffering the heartbreaking loss in game one, came back to throw three scoreless to secure the save. Every Hornet picked up a hit in the game five Hornets having two hits.
Chandler Ballenger and
Gavin Horning each had three RBI with
Connor Houser picking up two RBI.
Winning Pitcher:
Jacob Bell (9-2)
Losing Pitcher: Bere Bauers (3-3)
Save:
Joey Mitchell (5)
Top Numbers:
Frankie Ritter: 2-6, 2 runs scored
Jaime Padilla: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 double 1 walk, 2 stolen bases
Chandler Ballenger: 1-4, 1 run scored, 3 RBI, 1 walk
Gavin Horning: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI, 1 triple, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases
Pearce Bucher: 1-4, 1 rbi, 1 walk
Connor Houser: 1-3, 2 RBI, 1 walk
Haden Madagan: 2-5, 1 double
Brody Pickette: 2-5, 2 runs scored
Matt House: 1-4, 1 run scored
Jacob Bell: winning pitcher, 6 IP, 7 hits, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk
Joey Mitchell: save, 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 R, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- With a full count as the leadoff batter, Frankie Ritter won the battle and sent a ball through the right side for his 351st collegiate hit. Jaime Padilla put a swinging bunt landed in no man's land, and with his speed, beat the throw. With one out, Ritter and Padilla executed a double steal before Gavin Horning lined a ball to the right center field fence for a two-run triple. Pearce Bucher picked up the fourth hit of the inning, as he lined a ball through the right side to score Horning making it a 3-0 game. Haden Madagan drilled a double off of the wall but the Yellow Jackets got Bucher at the plate to end the inning. The Hornets put up three runs on five hits in the opening inning to give Jacob Bell a lead before throwing a pitch.
- Jacob Bell got the start for the Hornets and retired the first two batters before surrendering a double down the line. Bell was able to get the next batter with a lineout to short.
- Brody Pickette started the second for the Hornets with a one-pitch ball through left side. Matt House hit a ball that appeared to be fair which would have been in for extra bases, but ruled foul. On the 12th pitch he saw; he finally drew a walk to put two runners on with nobody out. Frankie Ritter tried to catch the defense sleeping and attempted to lay down a bunt, but popped it up to the catcher for the first out of the inning. Jaime Padilla missed a home run by feet as he sent a ball to the right center gap to score Pickette and moved House to third with one out in the inning. Chandler Ballenger reached first on and advanced to second on a throwing error, on the play House came home to make it 5-0 with two runners in scoring position. Gavin Horning picked up his second hit with a one-handed swing to left center making it 6-0. Horning then stole second to put two runners into scoring position with only one out. Connor Houser golfed a single to right field as Ballenger and Horning scored easily, but Houser was stranded as Macon got out of the second.
- After sitting for a while in the top of the second as the Hornets added five more runs and four more hits, Jacob Bell threw nine pitches to get out of the second and retire the Yellow Jackets in order.
- For the second straight inning, Brody Pickette led the inning off with a single as he sent the ball back up the middle. Frankie Ritter picked up his second hit with a single as there were two runners on with one out. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. Chandler Ballenger roped an opposite-field single to score two more runs as the lead increased to 10-0, but was stranded on first as the inning ended.
- Bell cruised through the Yellow Jackets in third retiring Macon in order for the second straight inning.
- With one out in the inning, Connor Houser walked before Haden Madagan golfed a ball through the left side to put two runners on. However, for the first time in the game, the Hornets did not score as Macon ended the inning with a double play.
- Jacob Bell through four innings, has retired 10 straight batters as he sat the Yellow Jackets down in order for the third consecutive inning.
- With one out, Frankie Ritter reached first on an error and stole second base before then stealing third. Ritter was stranded at third as they failed to score for the second inning.
- Bell continues to cruise as he has set down 13 straight Yellow Jacket batters, retiring the side in order again.
- Gavin Horning led the sixth off with a walk and then stole second with one out. Connor Houser was hit by a pitch as the Hornets had two runners on again. Both runners moved into scoring position on the wild pitch, but the inning ended there as the Hornets still led 10-0.
- After retiring the first batter in the sixth, the Yellow Jackets picked up their second hit of the game, ending a streak of Bell retiring 14 straight batters. Bell then hit a batter for the Yellow Jackets as Macon had two runners on for the first time on the day. A walk loaded the bases with only one out in the inning. Macon jumped on a first-pitch ball and lined a single into left as two Yellow Jackets scored to cut into the lead 10-2. With one swing, Macon cut the lead in half with a three-run home run, but Bell struck out the next batter on three pitches for the second out. Macon singled to center for the fourth hit of the inning but got a fly out to center to end the inning.
- Matt House led the seventh off with a rocket up the middle, as every Hornet had at least one hit in the game. With Matt House in motion, Ritter drilled a ball but right at the first baseman, as House was doubled up. Jaime Padilla drew a two-out walk and quickly stole second base before Ballenger drew a four-pitch walk. Both runners advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch, but they were stranded there.
- For the first time in the game, Bell did not retire the leadoff batter as the first two reached on singles, an error moved batters to scoring position. Parker Farrington took over for Bell, before issuing a four-pitch walk to load the bases. A single to left moved everyone up one spot and made it a 10-6 game before Joey Mitchell took over. A double play ball up the middle scored another run making it 10-7, but was the second out of the inning. Mitchell limits the damage to get the final out with a strikeout.
- Pearce Bucher drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a balk. Haden Madagan smashed a ball, but right at the shortstop, forcing Bucher to stay at second, but again the Hornets left the runner stranded in scoring position.
- Mitchell got the first batter to line out to House at second, before getting the second out on a liner to left. With two outs, Macon hit an infield single and stole second, and then Macon drew a two-out walk. Mitchell got out of the inning with a swinging strikeout.
- For the first time this game, Macon retired the Hornets in order as it was up to Mitchell to get the final three outs of the game for the save.
- The inning started with Ritter making a fantastic defensive stop, deep in the hole at short to get the first out, before Macon singled to right. After falling behind to the three-hole hitter 3-0, Mitchell came back to get the strikeout looking. Mitchell secured the win and extended the season for the Hornets after getting the final batter to pop up to second.
UP NEXT
The Hornets now await the loser of the game between Roanoke and Lynchburg for the second elimination game of the day.
#GoSUHornets
