LYNCHBURG, Va. - After third-seeded Randolph-Macon took the lead in the top of the 10th, top-seeded Shenandoah tied it in the bottom of the 10th and won it in the 12th by a score of 3-2 Friday evening at City Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (24-8) plated a run without the benefit of a hit in the top of the second. Junior Mitchell Keeler (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) reached on an error to open the inning and moved to second when junior Michael Trentham (Midlothian, Va./James River) also reached on an error. Junior Michael Kroll (Virginia Beach, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate) walked to load the bases and sophomore Jordan Schmeer (Richmond, Va./Benedictine) reached on a fielder's choice to plate Keeler with the first run.
The Hornets (26-7-1) used a triple and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 1-1.
Neither team would score over the next seven innings to force extra frames.
Freshman Rick Spiers (South Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) had a leadoff single to left to start the top of the 10th and was sacrificed to second by senior Nate Meiners (Silver Spring, Md./St. John's Prep). Junior Nick Maiolo (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) singled through the left side, moving Spiers to third. Freshman Cole Migliorini (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) hit a grounder to short and SU attempted to turn a double play. But Migliorini beat the throw to first, allowing Spiers to score the go-ahead run.
SU used a leadoff walk, a sacrifice, a fielder's choice and a two-out single to plate the tying run in the bottom of the 10th. The Hornets were able to manufacture an unearned run in the 12th to secure the victory.
Keeler had three hits and Meiners added two for R-MC.
Senior JT Williamson (Springfield, Va./Springfield) was masterful in just his second start of the season. He worked nine innings and allowed seven hits, one run, one walk and seven strikeouts. Williamson threw 132 pitches.
Randolph-Macon is scheduled to play the winner of the Virginia Wesleyan-Roanoke matchup in the second game on Saturday, April 25, weather permitting.