WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team returned to conference play Tuesday afternoon, hosting Bridgewater College in Winchester to complete the season series with the Eagles. The Hornets (20–10, 11–4 ODAC) used a strong offensive performance and a resilient bullpen effort to earn a 9–5 victory, splitting the series with Bridgewater.
After falling behind 2–0 in the top of the first, Shenandoah quickly tied the game in the bottom half and took the lead for good in the second. Bridgewater momentarily knotted the game at 3–3 in the fourth, but the Hornets responded with four runs in the bottom half before adding two insurance runs in the sixth.
Offensively, Noah Cornwell and Carl Keenan each went 2-for-4. Jaime Padilla tripled, while Cornwell and Cole Ambrosius both doubled. Padilla, Kyle Garrett, Cornwell, and Christian Carver each collected an RBI, while Brody Pickette and Ambrosius drove in two runs apiece. Garrett also broke the program's single-game stolen base record, swiping five bags.
Nick Bell got the start and pitched 3.2 innings, giving up five hits and three runs while striking out two. Anthony Arrichiello recorded the final out of the fourth. Jacob Gilbert followed with one inning of relief, allowing two hits and striking out one. Braden Landis tossed two innings, yielding one run on two hits with a strikeout. Liam Stewart closed out the game with two hitless innings, striking out four and earning his second win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bell allowed a lead off single in the first, followed by another hit and a walk to load the bases. A single up the middle drove in two runs before Bell settled down to get the next two outs, minimizing the damage. In the bottom of the frame, Padilla drew a lead off walk but was erased on a fielder's choice by Garrett. Garrett stole second and moved to third on an error before Cornwell laced a two-run double down the line to tie it at 2–2.
In the second, Keenan reached base and came around to score on Padilla's triple to right field, giving Shenandoah a 3–2 lead.
Bell retired the Eagles in order in the third, and Cornwell drew a one-out walk in the bottom half, but the Hornets couldn't capitalize due to an inning-ending double play.
In the fourth, Bridgewater tied the game after a two-out rally that included an error, a single, and two walks. Arrichiello stranded the bases loaded with a clutch strikeout to end the threat.
The Hornets responded immediately. Houser walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and back-to-back singles by Madagan and Keenan loaded the bases. Carver's sacrifice fly scored Houser, and Padilla walked to reload the bases. Garrett then reached on a fielder's choice that brought in another run, and he later stole second. Pickette delivered a two-run single up the middle to make it 7–3.
In the fifth, Arrichiello walked the lead off batter and was replaced by Gilbert, who gave up a single and a fielder's choice that set up a Bridgewater RBI single to cut the lead to 7–4.
Landis entered in the sixth and retired the side in order. In the bottom of the inning, Garrett and Pickette both walked and stole second and third, respectively. Ambrosius ripped a double to left center, scoring both runners and extending the lead to 9–4.
Bridgewater added one run in the seventh on a sac fly following a single and a walk, but Landis escaped further trouble.
In the bottom of the seventh, Keenan was originally ruled safe on an infield single, but the call was overturned. Carver reached on an error, and Padilla was hit by a pitch. Garrett hit into a fielder's choice and then swiped his fifth base of the game, but the Hornets stranded both runners.
Stewart took over in the eighth and struck out two in a perfect inning. He returned in the ninth and, after an error and a walk, struck out the final two batters to secure the 9–5 win.
UP NEXT
The Hornets hit the road for their next seven contests, beginning with a doubleheader at Ferrum College this weekend.
#GoSUHornets
