ASHLAND, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team hit the road for the first time this season, opening conference play against No. 17 Randolph-Macon. The Hornets (9-4, 1-0) powered past the Yellow Jackets in a 10-6 victory, recording 12 hits and two home runs—one from Connor Houser and another from Noah Cornwell.
Jaime Padilla continued his hot streak, crushing two two-RBI doubles. The bottom of the order provided key production, as Carl Keenan (2-for-5), Brody Pickette (2-for-4), and Cole Ambrosius (2-for-5) all recorded multi-hit games. Padilla led the team with four RBIs, while Cornwell, Houser, Keenan, and Ambrosius each contributed one.
On the mound, Parker Farrington got the start, going three innings and allowing just one run on three hits. Jacob Gilbert followed with two scoreless innings, picking up his second win of the season. Anthony Arrichiello, Orion Marshall, and Joey Mitchell combined to close out the game, with Mitchell earning his second save after 2.2 strong innings, allowing one run and striking out four.
The victory marked a historic milestone for Head Coach Kevin Anderson, who notched his 800th career win, a total that spans his coaching tenures at James Madison and Shenandoah.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Liam Cook singled in the first inning, but the Hornets were held scoreless early. Farrington allowed a lead off single but quickly settled in, retiring the next three batters to keep the game tied at zero.
Houser put Shenandoah on the board in the second inning, launching his second home run of the season for a 1-0 lead. However, Randolph-Macon answered in the bottom half, tying the game after a lead off double came around to score on an infield single.
The game remained tied through the third and fourth innings, with Gilbert escaping a jam in the fourth by stranding two runners in scoring position.
Shenandoah regained the lead in the fifth when Keenan singled and later scored on an RBI single by Ambrosius. Cornwell added to the lead in the sixth with his fourth home run of the season, making it a 3-1 game.
The Hornets' offense erupted in the seventh inning. Keenan led off with a single before Pickette laid down a perfect bunt. Ambrosius reached on a throwing error, allowing another run to score. Padilla then delivered a clutch two-RBI double, extending the lead to 7-1. The Yellow Jackets responded with a four-run bottom half, cutting the lead to 7-5, but Mitchell came in to stop the rally.
Padilla struck again in the eighth with another two-RBI double, pushing the lead to 9-5. Despite Randolph-Macon plating a run in the bottom of the inning, the Hornets tacked on one more insurance run in the ninth when Cornwell reached on an error and later scored on another Macon miscue.
Mitchell closed the door in the ninth, securing the 10-6 win with two strikeouts and a fly out.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will conclude their first conference weekend with a rematch against Randolph-Macon tomorrow at noon.
#GoSUHornets
