WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team continued conference play with a dominant 8-2 win over the visiting Virginia Wesleyan Marlins in game one of a two-game series. The Hornets (11-5, 3-1) took control early and never looked back as they secured their third conference victory of the season.
Parker Farrington earned his third win of the year, pitching five innings while allowing four hits, two runs, two strikeouts, and one walk. Liam Stewart closed out the final four innings in dominant fashion, surrendering just one hit and striking out seven to record the first save of his collegiate career.
Offensively, Shenandoah managed six hits, highlighted by Brody Pickette's three-run home run in the third inning. Cole Ambrosius contributed the team's only other extra-base hit, a double to right center that scored Jaime Padilla from first. Connor Houser drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly, while Kyle Garrett added an RBI bunt single.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Parker Farrington set the tone early, retiring the first two Marlins on just three pitches. After a 15-pitch battle resulted in a walk, an infield single put runners on the corners, but Farrington escaped unscathed with a ground out.
Shenandoah took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first without registering a hit. A Marlins error, two walks, and a sacrifice fly from Houser plated Ambrosius. The Hornets then executed a savvy base running play as Haden Madagan got caught in a rundown, allowing Noah Cornwell to race home.
Farrington continued his solid start in the second inning, working around an error. Pickette then showcased his defensive prowess by throwing out a base runner attempting to steal second. The Hornets threatened again in the bottom half, loading the bases after Carl Keenan's single, but an inning-ending double play kept the score at 2-0.
In the third inning, Virginia Wesleyan tied the game at 2-2 with back-to-back home runs. Shenandoah quickly responded in the bottom half as Padilla reached on an infield single and scored on Ambrosius' RBI double. Following a hit-by-pitch and a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Madagan, Houser lined an RBI single to right center. Pickette then delivered the biggest blow of the game, launching a three-run home run to left field to give the Hornets a commanding 7-2 advantage.
Farrington settled in, retiring the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings. Stewart took over in the sixth and dominated, striking out two batters and inducing a ground out to short.
Shenandoah added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Liam Cook was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a perfectly executed bunt single by Garrett, pushing the lead to 8-2.
Stewart remained in control, allowing just one hit over the final three innings while striking out seven to secure the victory and his first collegiate save.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah looks to complete the series sweep as the Marlins return for game two on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for noon.
#GoSUHornets
