WINCHESTER, Va. – No. 14/20 Shenandoah University forced the if-necessary game Sunday morning with a 6-3 victory over The Catholic University of America.

Shenandoah (37-11-1) and the Cardinals (31-13) now will play a 12:25 p.m. game to determine the winner of the 2022 Winchester Regional.

IN DEPTH

CUA jumped on Hornets starter Jacob Bell for two runs on four hits in the first before Bell settled in and dominated for the next six innings.

Bell (4-0) went 7 1/3 innings in his second-ever start and departed after giving up three runs on six hits and three walks. The junior struck out seven and retired the Cards in order in the second, third, and seventh while facing one over the minimum in the fourth, fifth, and sixth.

After issuing a leadoff walk and a single in the eighth, SU skipper Kevin Anderson turned to senior southpaw Tad Dean. Dean got those final five outs without allowing a hit to record his sixth save of the season.

Trailing by that 2-0 margin, Shenandoah seized control of the contest with four runs on four hits in the third. Kooper Anderson got the inning started with a single to left before Matt Moon doubled into the left field corner.

Frankie Ritter brought home Anderson with a sacrifice fly to right as Moon moved up on the play as well. He came home on Gavin Horning's single up the middle.

Following a Kyle Lisa fly out to center Pearce Bucher extended his hitting streak to 35 games with a two-run blast to right.

The home run is his seventh of the season.

Shenandoah scored its final two runs in the seventh with Catholic plating its last one in the eighth.

Danny Fitzgerald took the loss for Catholic. Fitzgerald (5-3) allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched.

UP NEXT

These two teams play a winner-take-all championship game starting at approximately 12:25.