No. 18 Shenandoah Slugs Past EMU

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WINCHESTER, Va. - No. 12/18 Shenandoah University banged out 19 hits in a 19-11 non-league baseball victory over Eastern Mennonite University Monday evening.

Shenandoah (23-8) scored in every inning but the fifth in finishing off the season sweep of the Royals (10-20).

Leading 6-0 after scoring three runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third, SU found itself trailing 8-6 heading into its half of the fourth after EMU scored eight runs (all with two outs) against three different Shenandoah pitchers in the top of the frame.

Senior Kyle Gladu got the first two outs of the inning on just two pitches before pitcher/designated hitter Beau Banglesdorf doubled to right.

Banglesdorf's two-bagger would be the first of four consecutive hits for the Royals and started a rally that saw EMU score eight runs on six hits and four walks.

Junior Brent Bertschinger, making his first-ever appearance for the Hornets, finally stopped the bleeding by getting Dylan Smith, the 13th hitter of the frame, to line out to right.

Eastern Mennonite would extend its advantage to 11-7 by the middle of the sixth.

Shenandoah clawed back with three runs in the sixth, outlasted a 30-minute rain delay, and finally took the lead for good with a six-run seventh.

The Hornets completed their scoring with three more in the eighth. Senior Jake Pendergraft had a two-run HR before Joe Bittner drove in pinch runner Eric Rhodes with a double to center.

Freshman Matt Riegler (4-0), the seventh of nine SU pitchers, earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief work. Riegler allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two.

Kyle Scallion recorded the final four outs with three strikeouts and a groundout.

Senior Joey Donofrio led the 19-hit attack with four hits in six at-bats. He and Pendergraft both drove in three.