BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team continued its busy week of play as they returned to conference action with a road contest against Bridgewater. The Hornets (16-7, 7-2), coming off a walk-off win the previous day, found themselves on the opposite side this time, as Bridgewater scored seven runs over the final two innings, including a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, to secure an 8-5 victory.
Haden Madagan led the Hornets offensively, going 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and three stolen bases. Kyle Garrett also had a strong performance at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three stolen bases. Noah Cornwell contributed with his 12th home run of the season in the first inning and added a stolen base.
On the mound, Jacob Gilbert got the start, pitching 2.0 innings while allowing three hits, one run, and one walk, with a strikeout. Jake Holbert followed with 1.0 inning of relief, giving up one hit and recording a strikeout. Liam Stewart pitched 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. Orion Marshall contributed 2.0 innings, surrendering one hit and walking two. Joey Mitchell, who took the loss, allowed seven hits and seven runs in 1.2 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After retiring the first two batters to start the game, Noah Cornwell blasted his 12th home run of the season to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. Brody Pickette then drew a two-out walk but was stranded at first.
Jacob Gilbert took the mound for Shenandoah and allowed a lead off double. After securing the first out, an errant throw on a tag-up attempt allowed Bridgewater to tie the game at 1-1. A walk and a single put two runners on, but Gilbert settled in and retired the final two batters to escape further damage.
The Hornets put another two-out base hit on the board in the second, this time from Scott Wilson, but the runner was again left stranded. In the bottom of the second, Gilbert gave up a lead off single, but a double play erased the threat before a fly ball to right field ended the inning with the score still tied at 1-1.
Jaime Padilla led off the third with a double, but a fielder's choice erased him at third as Garrett reached first. Garrett advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt and then stole third. Cornwell walked to put runners on the corners with one out before stealing second to put two runners in scoring position. Brody Pickette reached on an error, allowing Garrett to score and put Shenandoah ahead 2-1. The Eagles secured the final two outs while leaving two Hornet runners on base.
Jake Holbert took over in the bottom of the third and gave up a lead off single up the middle but settled in to retire the next three batters, keeping the score at 2-1.
Haden Madagan led off the fourth inning with a single to right field and quickly stole both second and third base. Christian Carver was then hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. Padilla was also hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Garrett followed with a clutch two-run single to extend the lead to 4-1.
Liam Stewart entered in the fourth inning and allowed a one-out hit but struck out the final two batters. Both teams were quiet offensively in the middle innings as Stewart retired the Eagles in order in the fifth.
Orion Marshall took over in the sixth and worked around a two-out walk to keep the Hornets ahead 4-1. In the seventh, Shenandoah added an insurance run when Brody Pickette reached on an infield single. Connor Houser laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position, and with two outs, Madagan delivered an RBI single through the right side, making it a 5-1 game.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Marshall allowed a double and a walk but stranded both runners in scoring position.
The Hornets had chances to extend their lead in the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to capitalize. Joey Mitchell entered to pitch the final two innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Mitchell gave up a one-out double followed by a walk. After recording a strikeout, a single to center field made it a 5-2 game. Another single to left field brought in another run, cutting the lead to 5-3 before Mitchell secured the final out.
Needing three outs to secure the win, Mitchell retired the first batter in the ninth before allowing back-to-back singles. A ground ball to first resulted in the second out but moved both runners into scoring position. An infield single followed by an error tied the game at 5-5. With two runners still on, Bridgewater's batter hit a three-run home run to complete the comeback, sealing an 8-5 walk-off victory for the Eagles.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah returns home this weekend for a doubleheader against Hampden-Sydney on Saturday. First pitch is set for noon.
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