TYSONS, Va. – The Hornets were back in action Friday afternoon in the first elimination game of the ODAC Tournament as Shenandoah took on Bridgewater. The Hornets (28-16, 14-8) fell behind early as the Eagles hit a solo shot in the second before adding another home run in the third to make it 4–0. Shenandoah chipped away, scoring in the fourth through eighth innings.
Joey Mitchell started for the Hornets, going the first 3.1 innings while allowing six hits and six runs with four strikeouts. Braden Landis followed with 2.1 innings, giving up two hits and one run while striking out one. Liam Stewart closed the game, going the final 3.1 innings with no hits, one run allowed, and five strikeouts.
Offensively, Haden Madagan led the way, going 3-for-4 and finishing a triple short of the cycle. Kyle Garrett, Noah Cornwell, Brody Pickette, Anthony Arrichiello, Christian Carver, and Jonathan Stokely all recorded hits for Shenandoah.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Padilla was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Garrett but was stranded. Mitchell gave up a leadoff walk, then induced a ground ball double play. With two outs, Bridgewater took a 1–0 lead on a solo home run.
In the second, Arrichiello drew a two-out walk and advanced on a wild pitch, but Shenandoah couldn't bring him in. Mitchell allowed a two-out double but ended the inning with a strikeout. In the third, Padilla walked and stole second, but Cornwell was robbed of extra bases. Bridgewater added three more runs on a two-run homer after a single and a walk, making it 4–0.
Shenandoah got on the board in the fourth. Pickette reached on an error and Madagan singled. Arrichiello's sac fly brought in Pickette, and Carver followed with a single. Carver then stole second. Walks to Keenan, Padilla, and Garrett forced in two runs, cutting the deficit to 4–3. In the bottom of the inning, Bridgewater responded with two runs on a single and a fielder's choice after a pitching change to Landis, extending the lead to 6–3.
In the fifth, Pickette singled and Madagan doubled. Arrichiello grounded out to the right side to score Pickette, trimming the lead to 6–4. Landis returned to pitch a 1-2-3 inning.
In the sixth, Keenan was hit by a pitch and Padilla reached on an error. Cornwell singled to load the bases, and a sac fly scored a run, making it 6–5. In the bottom half, Bridgewater loaded the bases with one out, but Stewart came in and stranded all three runners.
Madagan tied the game in the seventh with a leadoff home run. Arrichiello beat out an infield single and advanced on Keister's sac bunt. After a walk to Keenan, Garrett doubled to left to tie it at 7–7. Stewart struck out the side in the bottom of the frame.
In the eighth, Stewart was hit by a pitch, Madagan walked, and Ambrosius followed with a walk to load the bases. Stokely singled to give SU its first lead at 8–7. Keenan reached on a fielder's choice to bring in one run, and Ambrosius scored on an error to make it 10–7. Stewart worked around a walk in the bottom half to keep the lead intact.
The Hornets were retired in order in the ninth. In the bottom half, Stewart worked around three walks, a fielder's choice, and a hit-by-pitch, allowing just one run to preserve the 10–8 win and keep Shenandoah's playoff hopes alive.
UP NEXT
The Hornets now await the loser of the Randolph-Macon and Lynchburg game to play in the second elimination game of the day. That game is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m.
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