TYSONS, Va. – The Shenandoah University baseball team played its second elimination game of the day Friday night, taking on the second-seeded Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets in the ODAC Tournament. The Hornets (28–18, 14–8) led for much of the contest behind a gritty performance from Jacob Gilbert, but ultimately fell 3–1.
Gilbert delivered 7.0+ strong innings, scattering six hits and allowing three runs while striking out four. Orion Marshall pitched the final inning, giving up one hit and a walk.
The Hornets' lone run came in the first inning when Jaime Padilla led off with a walk, stole second, and scored on a Brody Pickette single. Pickette led the offense with a 3-for-4 day. Haden Madagan and Carl Keenan added the other two hits in a tightly contested game that featured only 11 total hits between both teams.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Padilla opened the game with a four-pitch walk and stole second base. Pickette followed with a single to center to plate Padilla and give the Hornets a 1–0 lead. Gilbert took the mound and retired the first two batters before allowing a double and a walk. With two runners in scoring position after a wild pitch, Gilbert worked out of the jam with a strikeout.
Both teams were retired in order in the second and third innings. In the fourth, Gilbert allowed a two-out single but stranded the runner. The fifth inning saw both sides go down quietly once again.
Randolph-Macon tied the game in the sixth after a one-out double and a walk set the table. A single scored the tying run, but Gilbert induced a key double play to limit the damage and end the inning tied 1–1.
In the seventh, Pickette was robbed of an extra-base hit on a diving catch in the right-center gap. Madagan singled with two outs but was left stranded. Gilbert returned to the mound and retired the Yellow Jackets in order.
The Hornets threatened in the eighth. After a pitching change by Randolph-Macon, Christian Carver walked and Keenan singled. Both runners advanced on a ground out, but Shenandoah couldn't capitalize. In the bottom of the frame, Randolph-Macon regained the lead. Back-to-back singles followed by a sacrifice bunt and an error brought home the go-ahead run. After an intentional walk, Gilbert exited and Marshall entered. Marshall recorded an out at the plate but then walked in a run to make it 3–1 before ending the inning with two ground outs.
Down to their final three outs, the Hornets mounted a final push. Cornwell lined out on a well-placed defensive shift, but Pickette singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. Madagan walked and Houser was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Randolph-Macon escaped the jam with a pop-up and a fielder's choice to seal the 3–1 win.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah has been eliminated from the ODAC Tournament and will now await its postseason fate, hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA regional tournament.
#GoSUHornets
