WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team wrapped up its weekend series with Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon, securing a commanding 13-3 victory to complete the sweep. The Hornets (12-5, 4-1) were led offensively by Noah Cornwell, who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBIs, two home runs, and a ground-rule double (originally ruled a home run but later changed). Haden Madagan also contributed, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Connor Houser added a home run while going 2-for-5, and Carl Keenan finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI.
On the mound, Brian Ferreira entered in the first inning after Blaine Griffin was unable to get out of the frame. Ferreira pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, and striking out two. Jacob Gilbert earned the win, throwing 2.0 innings with three strikeouts, two hits, and one walk. Jake Holbert and Orion Marshall combined to close out the final three innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out two.
Griffin started for the Hornets and quickly recorded the first out before loading the bases with a walk and two hit-by-pitches. A failed pick off attempt allowed the Marlins to take an early 1-0 lead. Griffin then hit his fourth batter of the inning, prompting a pitching change. Ferreira entered and immediately recorded a strikeout to limit the damage.
Shenandoah responded in the bottom of the first, tying the game 1-1 with three consecutive hits. With two outs, Cornwell hit a ground-rule double to left field and then scored on a single by Brody Pickette. Houser followed with a single to put runners on the corners, and Madagan reached on an infield single to third, giving the Hornets a 2-1 lead. After Keenan walked to load the bases, Virginia Wesleyan escaped further trouble by leaving the runners stranded.
Ferreira returned for the second inning, where a lead off single was erased on a double play. However, the Marlins evened the score at 2-2 with a solo home run before Ferreira ended the inning with a ground out. The Hornets were unable to capitalize in their half of the inning, leaving a two-out walk stranded.
Virginia Wesleyan briefly regained the lead in the third after back-to-back doubles made it 3-2. Ferreira, however, settled down to retire the next three batters in order. The Hornets once again responded in the bottom of the third as Houser blasted a solo home run to the right-center gap, tying the game at 3-3. Madagan followed with a double to left but was stranded at third.
Gilbert entered in the fourth and retired the Marlins in order, marking the first scoreless inning of the game. The Hornets went down in order in their half of the frame.
Gilbert found himself in a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fifth but impressively retired the next three batters to leave them stranded. In the bottom half, Cornwell crushed a solo home run to right-center, reclaiming the lead for Shenandoah.
Holbert took over in the sixth, allowing a lead off single, but a fielder's choice and caught stealing helped him escape unscathed. The Hornets then added three insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Keenan and Matthew Atchley singled before a misplayed sacrifice bunt attempt by Carver loaded the bases. Garrett then singled to right, scoring Keenan. Atchley later scored on a wild pitch, and a dropped third strike allowed Carver to score, extending the lead to 7-3.
Marshall pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing just one hit and hitting one batter. A double-play ball helped him navigate the seventh, while he retired the Marlins in order in the eighth.
Shenandoah exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Keenan reached on a walk, and Atchley hit into a fielder's choice but was safe due to an error. Carver was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Brody Bower, pinch-hitting, was also hit by a pitch, forcing in a run. Ambrosius followed with a sacrifice fly, plating another run before Cornwell delivered the biggest blow of the inning—a three-run home run to left field—making it a 12-3 game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Madagan roped a double into left-center with one out, and Keenan followed with a double down the left-field line for his second walk-off hit of the week, securing the 13-3 victory.
UP NEXT
The Hornets face a busy schedule ahead, traveling to York on Monday for a non-conference match up before returning home on Wednesday for a conference game against Eastern Mennonite. They will then hit the road for a weekend series with Averett on Saturday.
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