The Basics
Game 1:
Score: Roanoke 3 | Shenandoah 2 (10 innings)
Records: Maroons 13-6 / 6-3 ODAC | Hornets 12-2 / 9-1 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.
The Lead: Roanoke played host to Shenandoah in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) double header on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets came into the games with a perfect 9-0 ODAC record and were ranked 13th in the country in the latest D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25. The Maroons took a 2-0 lead into the top of the ninth but a two-run HR by Shenandoah would send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, the Maroons would see the winning run cross the plate for the 3-2 win. In game two, Roanoke would use 16 hits to score 11 runs in completing the sweep of the Hornets.
How it Happened:
- In the bottom of the third, Carter Plunkett sent a double down the left field line to score Will Smith.
- Will Merriken singled to right center to score Plunkett for a 2-0 lead.
- The lead would hold up due to the pitching of Evan Parks. Parks would take the shutout into the ninth before a walk would bring the tying run to the plate. Frankie Ritter would tie the game with a shot over the left field fence.
- Smith started the bottom of the 10th with a double to left and would advance to third on a throwing error. Mason Staz delivered the game winning RBI on a single to right for the 3-2, extra-inning, win.
- Parks went nine, giving up four hits, two runs, and striking out four. Austin Bansek picked up his third win of the season pitching the 10th, giving up just one hit and striking out one batter.
- Smith, Staz, Plunkett, Jonny Wall, and Cale Agee each were 2-4, combining for 10 of Roanoke's 13 hits.
Game 2:
Score: Roanoke 11 | Shenandoah 8
Records: Maroons 14-6 / 7-3 ODAC | Hornets 12-3 / 9-2 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.
How it Happened:
- The Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but individual runs in the first and second would give Roanoke a 2-0 edge.
- After seeing the game tied in the fourth, Roanoke struck for a pair in the fifth to re-take the lead. With two outs, Agee singled through the right side and advanced on a Gavin Kandrick base hit. Tyler De Meo walked, leading to a pitching change for Shenandoah. Agee scored on a wild pitch leading to an intentional walk to Smith. Staz recorded another RBI wo make it 4-2.
- The Hornets would trim the lead to one before a big bottom of the sixth would see Roanoke begin to pull away. The Maroons would score four runs on three hits and a pair of Hornet miscues to take an 8-3 lead into the late innings.
- Each team would score a pair in the seventh and Roanoke took the five-run advantage into the eighth. However, the Hornets would close the gap by scoring three runs on three hits and a Roanoke error. The bases were still loaded with one out when Aiden Kuhle was summoned from the bullpen. Kuhle struck out the next two batters and RC would keep its lead.
- Plunkett singled to plate De Meo and the Maroons took a three-run lead into the ninth.
- Kuhle got the first two batters via the strikeout and the game would end on a foul out to third baseman Agee.
- Will Turner was credited with the win, pitching two and a third innings, giving up two hits and a run. Kuhle got the save by striking out four of the five batters he faced.
- Merriken was 3-6 with two runs and an RBI while De Meo went 3-4 with a run and RBI. Plunkett, Kandrick, and Conner Butler each had two hits.
Up Next: Roanoke travels to Averett on Tuesday for a game with the Cougars that is scheduled to start at 4:00pm.
