WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team returned to the diamond for a non-conference doubleheader against Wilkes University on Sunday, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Hornets (4-0) secured a sweep, edging out Wilkes 6-5 in game one before dominating game two with a 10-3 victory.
Shenandoah utilized a pitching-by-committee approach throughout the weekend, helping the team get off to a strong start. Offensively, Noah Cornwell and Kyle Garrett led the charge with three hits each, while Connor Houser launched the Hornets' first home run of the season. Jaime Padilla made a significant impact in game two, drawing four walks and scoring every time he reached base, contributing to the Hornets' sweep of the Colonels.
GAME ONE RECAP
Joe Gleason took the mound for the Hornets but faced early trouble, giving up a leadoff single, hitting a batter, and issuing a walk. The Colonels capitalized on two Shenandoah errors and two hits to push three runs across, jumping to a 3-0 lead.
The Hornets quickly responded in the bottom of the first. Padilla led off with a single up the middle, followed by a Garrett double down the left-field line. Haden Madagan then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Padilla. Cornwell kept the momentum going with an RBI single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Gleason settled in during the second inning, striking out the first two batters on six pitches before inducing a lineout to right field. Shenandoah continued its offensive push in the bottom half, with Liam Cook and Christian Carver recording singles. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners, and Padilla reached on an error, allowing Cook to score and tie the game at 3-3. Garrett then grounded out to short, scoring Keister and giving the Hornets a 4-3 lead.
Blaine Griffin took over in the third and retired the side in order with two strikeouts. Shenandoah added another run in the bottom of the frame, as Brody Pickette singled up the middle, followed by back-to-back hits from Cook and Carver, extending the lead to 5-3.
Griffin continued his dominance in the fourth, retiring the side in order again with two more strikeouts. In the fifth, Dominic Pancione entered the game and recorded two strikeouts but struggled with command, walking a batter with the bases loaded to allow Wilkes to score its fourth run. Colin Miller was called in with the bases loaded and gave up a single, tying the game at 5-5.
In the bottom of the sixth, Madagan singled to right field and advanced to third on Cornwell's double to center. A fielder's choice resulted in an out at home, but with the bases loaded, Cook was hit by a pitch, forcing in the go-ahead run.
Ryan Seifert was set to close out the game but had to wait through a 40-minute weather delay before returning to the mound to secure the final three outs, sealing Shenandoah's third straight win.
GAME TWO RECAP
Kody Dobyns started the nightcap for the Hornets and struck out the first batter he faced. However, he then allowed a hit-by-pitch, a double, and a walk. A wild pitch allowed Wilkes to score the first run, but Pickette threw out a runner attempting to steal, and Cornwell made a diving play at first to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Padilla and Garrett both walked and executed a double steal. Madagan grounded out to bring home Padilla, and Cornwell followed with an RBI single to right, giving Shenandoah a 2-1 lead.
Dobyns breezed through the second inning with two strikeouts. In the bottom of the frame, Houser singled with two outs, followed by a Cook walk. Scott Wilson then singled to third, and both runners scored on an error, extending the lead to 5-1.
Jackson Sherman took over on the mound in the fourth and retired the next three batters after allowing a leadoff single. Padilla walked to start the bottom of the inning, and Garrett followed with an infield single. Cornwell then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Padilla and making it 6-1.
Braden Landis pitched the fifth and allowed two Wilkes runs due to an error, but Houser responded in the bottom half with a solo home run to right-center, restoring a four-run lead.
Orion Marshall made his collegiate debut in the sixth, working around a hit-by-pitch to retire the next three batters in order. Shenandoah added three insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, with Brody Pickette doubling and Christian Francis scoring on a wild pitch.
Carl Keenan closed out the game, striking out two batters and inducing a groundout to short.
On the weekend, three Hornets—Jacob Gilbert, Dominic D'Ottavio, and Kody Dobyns—earned their first career wins.
UP NEXT
The Hornets continue their season-opening home stand next weekend with two more doubleheaders. Widener visits on Saturday, followed by a Sunday matchup against Juniata.
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