WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team started the first round of the ODAC Playoffs by welcoming the 6
th-seeded Guilford Quakers to town for game one of a best-of-three series. The Hornets (26-12, 1408) are the 3
rd-seeded team in the playoff and won the game 12-4 behind two home runs from
Connor Houser, and home runs from
Brody Pickette and
Kyle Garrett.
Jacob Bell got the start and pitched 8 strong innings to preserve the Hornets' bullpen. The last time the Hornets and the Quakers met, was a split down in Greensboro, N.C. on a game that the Hornets were trailing 23-12 going into the ninth inning. The Hornets scored nine times and had the tying run on third before the game was called due to darkness. Although cloudy in Winchester, the Hornets had no problem securing the victory to take the lead 1-0 in the series.
Winning Pitcher:
Jacob Bell (8-2)
Losing Pitcher: Marcello Ricigliano (4-6)
Top Numbers:
Connor Houser: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 6 RBI, 2 home runs
Gavin Horning: 3-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, 1 double
Chandler Ballenger: 3-5, 2 runs scored, 1 double
Pearce Bucher: 2-5, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Haden Madagan: 2-5
Brody Pickette: 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, 1 home run
Kyle Garrett: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 home run, 1 stolen base
Jacob Bell: winning pitcher, 8 IP, 7 hits, 3 Runs, 3 ER, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks
Jacob Gilbert: 1 IP, 0 hits, 1 Runs, 1 ER, 1 strikeout, 2 walks
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jacob Bell got the start for the Hornets and got the first batter out, but then hit the second batter to put a runner on with one out. After Bell went 3-0 on the three-hole hitter, he came back to get two strikes, but lost him and walked him to put two runners on. Bell got a fly ball to center, but it was deep enough for Guilford to move the runner from second to third. A single through the right side plated the first run for Guilford, Gavin Horning came up firing, to get the runner trying to go first to third.
- Frankie Ritter led the first off with a single to the shortstop. With one out, Chandler Ballenger blasted a ball and tucked it in perfectly down the left field line to put two runners on with only one out. Gavin Horning tied the game with a single up the middle to score Ritter easily, Ballenger trying to be aggressive, got thrown out at the plate off a strong throw. Both teams saved a run with an outfield assist through the first inning.
- Bell breezed through the Quakers in the second, getting two ground outs and a fly ball to right field.
- Connor Houser led the second off putting a charge into the ball to dead center, but the Quakers ran it down. Haden Madagan was first-pitch swinging, and perfectly placed a ball through the left side of the infield. Brody Pickette ended the inning with a double play, as the game went to the third tied at 1.
- A lead-off walk is how the third started for the Quakers. A single through the right side put runners on the corners with nobody out. Bell got the first out of the inning with a fly ball to right. For the second time in the game, Gavin Horning saves a run and throws the runner out at the plate. After a walk, with two outs, Bell got a fly ball to center to end the inning.
- Kyle Garrett led the third off with an absolute blast to dead center field, a ball with a 99 MPH exit velocity, and traveled 413 feet to give the Hornets the 2-1 lead. Frankie Ritter stayed hot, with his second infield single of the game. Ritter scored from first on an RBI double from Gavin Horning. Pearce Bucher reached on an error to put runners on the corners. For the second time, Houser put another charge into the ball at center, but Guilford made the catch to retire the side.
- The Quakers started the fourth with a single up the middle before Bell got the first out. Guilford singled again before a fielder's choice and an error gave the Quakers their second run. Back-to-back singles tied the game for Guilford and put runners on second and third, but a fly ball to right got the final out.
- Haden Madagan was robbed of a single up the middle before Pickette was hit by a pitch. Guilford got the next two outs, stranding Pickette at first.
- Bell picked up his first strikeout of the game to start the fifth, before issuing a one-out walk. A fly ball to center was the second out before Bell picked up his second strikeout to end the inning.
- With one out, Chandler Ballenger blasted a ball just foul and then took a 79 MPH back up the middle 102 MPH exit velocity. Horning picked up his third hit of the game to put two runners on before a fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs. Connor Houser punished a ball 393 feet at 102 MPH off the bat, a ball that landed on the road to give the Hornets the 6-3 lead. Haden Madagan kept the inning going singling through the left side but was stranded there as Guilford got out of the inning.
- Bell got the first out of the sixth on one pitch, a grounder to short. Pearce Bucher made a fantastic play at third to get the runner by a step for the second out. Not to be outdone, Madagan made a beautiful sliding play in foul territory for the final out.
- The Hornets were retired in order in the sixth with two deep fly balls and a nine-pitch battle from House.
- Bell surrendered a one-out single in the seventh but then got a strikeout, looking for the second out. Brody Pickette ended the inning on a beautiful catch right next to the netting.
- Chandler Ballenger led the seventh off with a rocket to right center. Horning, for the 14th time this season was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Pearce Bucher picked up a single through the left side to score Ballenger. Bucher started to steal second as the hit and run was on, and Houser grounded out to score Horning. With two outs, Brody Pickette smashed a ball 407 feet with a 102 MPH exit velocity. A pitch hit Kyle Garrett, who then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Frankie Ritter drew a two-out walk. Ritter stole second before the Quakers got the final out of the inning, but the Hornets extended their lead to 10-3.
- Bell stayed out to start the eighth inning and got the first out on a grounder to Ritter. An easy fly ball to Horning was the second out of the inning before House squeezed the third out of the inning on a popup to second.
- Pearce Bucher singled with two outs before Connor Houser blasted his second home run of the game, a ball that went 360 feet, skied a mile high, and had an exit velocity of 96 MPH.
- Jacob Gilbert took over for Jacob Bell in the ninth. Back-to-back walks is how the ninth started before the first out was a fielder's choice. A grounder to second scored a run but was the second out before picking up the final out with a strikeout.
UP NEXT:
The Hornets now have a 1-0 lead in the series and are back in action tomorrow at noon, to finish out the best of three series.
#GoSUHornets
