Pulaski, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team earned a crucial conference sweep over Roanoke College on Saturday afternoon at Calfee Park. The Hornets led wire to wire in a 12–4 game one victory, then mounted a late comeback to win game two, 10–9. Shenandoah (23–12, 13–6 ODAC) was powered by standout offensive performances and key bullpen contributions in both games.
In the opener, Jaime Padilla went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI, a double, and two walks. Connor Houser was 2-for-4 with an RBI, double, run scored, and a walk. Brody Pickette and Haden Madagan each homered, with Pickette driving in four runs and Madagan collecting two RBI. Joey Mitchell earned his first win of the season, going 5.0 innings and allowing four hits, four runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Braden Landis and Liam Stewart each contributed two scoreless innings, combining for five hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
The Hornets wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Kyle Garrett reached on an error and advanced to second before Pickette launched a two-run homer. Mitchell gave up a solo home run in the bottom half, making it 2–1.
In the second, walks to Anthony Arrichiello and Christian Carver, followed by a Carl Keenan single, loaded the bases. Padilla drove in two with a single to left, and Noah Cornwell followed with a double down the line to bring in two more, extending the lead to 6–1. A leadoff walk in the bottom of the second set up Roanoke's second homer, trimming the lead to 6–3.
After Houser doubled to start the third, he reached third on a passed ball but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a fly ball. Roanoke added another solo homer in the bottom half to make it 6–4.
In the fifth, Houser walked, and Madagan followed with a two-run home run to push the lead to 8–4. Padilla later singled to score Carver, making it 9–4. Mitchell retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning.
The Hornets added insurance in the eighth. Padilla walked, Garrett singled, and Cornwell walked to load the bases. Pickette reached on a fielder's choice as Padilla scored, and Houser's sacrifice fly brought in Garrett to make it 11–4. Stewart entered and pitched around a two-out single.
In the ninth, Keenan and Padilla walked, and Garrett walked to load the bases. Pickette's sac fly scored Keenan for the final run. Stewart closed out the game, working around a walk and a single to seal the 12–4 victory.
Game Two
In game two, Shenandoah rallied from behind, scoring eight runs over the final four innings to win 10–9. Garrett went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. Padilla added two more hits, including a double, and scored twice. Pickette went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs, and a double. Houser hit a solo home run, while Arrichiello and Keenan each had two hits, with Arrichiello adding two RBI and a double.
Blaine Griffin started and went 3.0 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Jacob Gilbert pitched the next two innings, allowing one run and striking out three. Jackson Sherman faced two batters before Jake Holbert went an inning, giving up two hits and one run. Brian Ferreira picked up the win with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out three. Orion Marshall and Ryan Seifert closed out the final four outs, with Seifert recording his second save.
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
Roanoke jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the first inning with a triple, double, and two singles. In the third, the Maroons added another run on a single following an error, making it 4–0.
The Hornets responded in the fourth. Cornwell walked, Pickette singled, and Houser moved both runners up with a sacrifice. Madagan's sac fly scored Cornwell, and Arrichiello singled in Pickette to cut the lead in half. Gilbert entered in the bottom half and retired the side.
Shenandoah threatened in the fifth but grounded into a double play. Roanoke answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to make it 5–2.
In the sixth, Houser hit a solo blast to pull within two. Roanoke responded with three runs in the bottom half, capitalizing on a triple, a passed ball, and a wild pitch to take an 8–3 lead.
The Hornets erupted for five runs in the seventh. Omps pinch-hit a single, followed by hits from Padilla and Garrett to load the bases. Cornwell drove in a run with a hard-hit grounder off the pitcher. Pickette's double brought in two, and Madagan's single scored Pickette. Arrichiello doubled to score pinch runner Pancione, and Keenan's sac fly gave the Hornets their first lead, 9–8.
Ferreira tossed a clean seventh with two strikeouts, and the Hornets added an insurance run in the eighth after Padilla doubled and scored on a wild pitch. Marshall relieved Ferreira in the eighth and stranded two runners to preserve the 10–8 lead.
In the ninth, Keenan doubled but was stranded. Marshall got the first out before hitting a batter and walking another. A wild pitch moved both runners up, and another hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Seifert came in and induced a ground ball up the middle, where Carver made a key play to get the force at second, though a run scored. Seifert then induced another groundout to end the game and seal the 10–9 comeback win.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah wraps up its regular-season series Tuesday at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
#GoSUHornets
