MOUNT BERRY, Ga. --- No. 9/11 Shenandoah University received a second straight strong pitching performance as the Hornets downed No. 5/6 Birmingham-Southern 6-2 Thursday evening at the NCAA South Regional.
Senior Darrell Thompson (6-2) tossed the first 7 2/3 innings, retiring 14 straight batters at one point, before turning it over to classmate Ryan Mossman for the final four outs.
Mossman, who came on with runners at 1st and 2nd following a pair of walks, got the final out of the eighth on a groundout to third and then worked through a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save of the season.
Thompson struck out seven, walked three and allowed just a pair of unearned runs. He is now 3-0 in NCAA Regional starts over his career.
"I got a little heavy at the end, but I was really in a groove tonight," Thompson said. "Once I got through the first, I felt really comfortable. My changeup was my money pitch tonight – it had a bunch of movement."
The win over the Panthers sends Shenandoah (33-10) into an 11 a.m. winner's bracket championship Friday against No. 6/5 Emory (Ga.). The winner of that game will be one game from the regional championship.
After B-SC (38-12) scored two unearned runs in the first, the Hornets took the lead for good with three runs on three hits and a Panthers error in the fourth.
Abel Arocho led off the rally with a single to right and advanced to third on a Jake Loew double into the gap in right center.
Following a John Wilt base on balls, Arocho and Loew both came home on Lew Johnson's single to center with Loew scoring as a result of a Sam Roberts fielding error in center.
Luke Nussman then gave the Hornets the lead by plating Wilt, who had advanced to third on the error, with a groundout to second.
Nussman had the big shot in the sixth, driving a 1-2 fastball over the right field fence for a three-run home run.
The dinger was his first career home run.
"I was looking for a curveball," Nussman said of his home run at-bat. He (B-SC starter Stephen Himic) just hung it up there and I hit it.
"I didn't even see it go over the fence. I was trying to get to second base."
The offense was more than enough for Thompson and Mossman, who allowed just three runners into scoring position after giving up the two runs in the first.
"We overcame some adversity at the start," Hornets skipper Kevin Anderson said.
"I thought Darrell pitched outstanding – he threw three pitches for strikes and really took away Birmingham-Southern's running game. I don't think he gave up a hit after the first inning.
"We also had a freshman, Luke Nussman, step up and get the big hit. That was a good win."
Himic (8-4) allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks in 6.0 innings.
--- This release is courtesy of the Shenandoah University sports information department. ---
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