RICHMOND, Va. --- Shenandoah University put the University of Lynchburg in an 8-0 after SU batted in the fourth inning, but Lynchburg climbed all the way back powered by a seven-run sixth inning to earn an 11-9 victory and lift its 10th conference trophy following the ODAC Baseball Tournament title game on Pitt Field at the University of Richmond on Saturday afternoon.
The win earns Lynchburg (38-6) the ODAC's automatic entry into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. Shenandoah (38-7) and any other potential ODAC qualifier will learn about the composition of the national bracket on Monday at noon via selection show on NCAA.com.
Lynchburg's comeback started with two runs in the fifth inning off Michael Meyers, who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning in just his first collegiate start. Gavin Collins took care of the no-no and shutout with one swing as he sent a prodigious blast over the left field fence for Lynchburg's first run. Two walks surrounded a single by Brandon Garcia -- the tournament's MOP -- forcing SU head coach Kevin Anderson to lift Meyers from the game.
Brian Ferreira walked Avery Neaves to plate the second run, but got Riley O'Donovan to fly out to end the inning.
Then came Lynchburg's seven run outburst in the sixth inning. One-out free passes issued to Collins and Sean Pokorak surrounded a single by Jackson Harding to load the bases. Carrson Atkins and Garcia followed with back-to-back two run doubles to make it 8-5 SU.
Parker Farrington relieved Ferreira and fanned Benton Jones with a high fastball. With two down, Neaves drove in Garcia with a single through the right side. After O'Donovan was hit by a pitch, Eric Hiett singled to left and moved to second on an error by the leftfielder. The single brought in one run and the error allowed a second to score, marking Lynchburg's seventh of the frame for a 9-8.
Lynchburg tacked on two much-needed insurance runs in the eighth. With the bases loaded and two down, Pokorak appeared set to strand all three runners with a grounder to third, but the throw saied beyond first base to allowed Harding and Hiett to score for an 11-8 lead through eight.
ODAC Pitcher of the Year Jack Bachmore earned his second multi-inning save of the tournament by tossing the final three innings, but his effort was not without drama. With one down, Gavin Horning and Pearce Bucher singled for Shenandoah, the latter hit pushing Horning to third. Haden Madagan followed with a RBI single back up the middle.
After Ryan Clawson popped out, Lisa loaded the bases with a to left field. Bachmore then sealed Lynchburg's victory by striking out Kooper Anderson for the final out.
Logan Tapman earned the win for Lynchburg, improving to 3-0 with 1.1 blemish free innings out of the bullpen. He struck out two batters. Bachmore scattered six hits in his three innings to collected his 11th save of the season. He struck out a pair.
Garcia led the way for Lynchburg offensively, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored and a stolen base. Neaves and Atkins drove in two runs while Hiett and Collins accounted for the remaining RBI.
Madagan and Clawson both wenth 3-for-5 for Shenandoah. Madagan drove in four runs, while Clawson plated a pair. Horning reached base four times as he went 2-for-3 with a walk and HBP. He drove in a pair and scored three times.
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Shenandoah's charge to an eight-run lead started with a solo homer by Lisa to lead off the third inning.
SU plated three in the fourth inning. Madagan drove in a pair with a double down the left field line, scoring Horning and Colby Martin. Clawson followed with a single through the right side to bring around Madagan.
Horning was again heavily involved in the scoring in the fifth inning with SU posting four more runs. He doubled to center to bring around Colby Martin and Frankie Ritter, who became the ODAC's all-time hits leader against Roanoke College on Friday. Three batters later, Madagan brought home Horning with a single to left. Clawson sent one back up the middle drive in Madagan and give SU an 8-0 lead entering the bottom of the frame.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Conner Butler, Roanoke
- Mason Staz, Roanoke
- Jacob Bell, Shenandoah
- Ryan Clawson, Shenandoah
- Gavin Horning, Shenandoah
- Kyle Lisa, Shenandoah
- Haden Madagan, Shenandoah
- Frankie Ritter, Shenandoah
- Jack Bachmore, Lynchburg
- Eric Hiett, Lynchburg
- Benton Jones, Lynchburg
- Carrson Atkins, Lynchburg
- Avery Neaves, Lynchburg
- Zack Potts, Lynchburg
- Brandon Garcia, Lynchburg (MOP)