HIGH POINT, N.C. --- All successful runs come to an end at some point, and on Sunday afternoon, University of Lynchburg's run in the NCAA Division III baseball tournament concluded. The Hornets fell 11-2 to Birmingham-Southern College in the semifinal round of the High Point Regional at Truist Point.
The Hornets (36-15) fell behind early as the Panthers took a 4-0 lead in the home half of the first and then in the second, B-SC tacked on two more for a 6-0 advantage.
With two away in the third, B-SC's Cole Steadman hit a three-run homer to right center breaking the game open and giving the the Panthers (28-15) a commanding 9-0 lead.
In the top of the eighth, senior Chris Martin led off the frame with a double and after Parker Shaffer drew a walk, junior Garrett Jackson singled to left center plating both Martin and Shaffer for Lynchburg's only runs of the contest. It was the 20th time the Lynchburg offense scored in the eighth inning of a ballgame this season.
Lynchburg reliever Santiago Meneses was a bright spot for the Hornets as the senior threw four no-hit innings out of the bullpen and allowed just one walk and punched out a lone Panther.
The 2021 season was an historic one for Lynchburg baseball. The 2021 Hornets won a program record 36 games and played in a record 51 contests.
Lynchburg claimed its first Old Dominion Athletic Conference title since 2012, as the Hornets defeated Shenandoah University in walk-off fashion back on May 22. Tt was the first time since 2008 a Lynchburg baseball team won multiple games of a regional tournament.