HARRISONBURG, VA --- EMU broke open a pitchers' duel in the seventh inning, and starter Ryan Henschel (New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) kept on rolling as the baseball men picked up a 3-0 win against Washington and Lee Wednesday afternoon in Harrisonburg. It was one of the men's best pitching performances in years, as Henschel and reliever Aaron Hooven (Carroll, Va./Carroll County) combined for a five-hit shutout, the first blanking thrown by Eastern Mennonite (11-10, 5-6 ODAC) since 2009.
Henschel, a left-handed senior, didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning as he retired the first 12 Generals he faced. The defense was picking up whatever W&L (6-9, 4-7 ODAC) managed, as a leadoff double in the fifth was erased later on a double play, while in the seventh the leadoff batter reached on an error but was cut down trying to steal second.
The Royals' offense wasn't faring much better, however, managing only three base runners over the first six innings. Finally in the seventh they put a couple of hits together.
Ryan Hedrick (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) led off with a single but was still standing on second with two outs. Kyle Mathews (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) kept the inning alive when he was plunked in the back by a pitch. Nic Love (Bedford, Va./Staunton River) hit a clutch single down the third base line, and Hedrick chugged around to score the first run of the game. Nic's brother, Patrick Love (Bedford, Va./Staunton River), then shot a triple to center, bringing in two more runs to give the Royals a little breathing room.
The Generals managed two hits off Henschel in the eighth, but a chopper to third ended the threat. After getting a leadoff fly ball out in the ninth, Henschel finally ran out of steam, giving up a pair of singles. Hooven came in and the first he pitch threw was lined up the middle, where Patrick Love made a great spear with a quick toss to second base to double off the runner and end the game.
Henschel allowed five hits in 8.1 innings as he improved to 2-1. He only allowed two baserunners over the first seven innings. Hooven, a weekend starter getting some mid-week work, earned his first save by coaxing out the quick doubleplay. The two combined for EMU's first shutout in six years, an 18-0 win over Lancaster Bible College on April 13, 2009.
EMU had seven hits in the win, with three men each getting two hits. Patrick Love finished 2-3 with two RBIs. Hedrick had a pair of singles and scored the game's first run. Joe Hall (Gladys, Va./Rustburg) also had two hits, while Nic Love had one hit, run and RBI.
The Royals head to Lynchburg on Saturday for a conference doubleheader. First pitch is at noon.