Richmond, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg baseball team ousted Shenandoah 13-5 on Friday to secure a spot in Saturday's conference championship matchup.

Each of the nine starters for the Hornets earned a hit to combine for 15 total. Carrson Atkins slammed an emphatic three-run homer to left field, along with doubles from Ben Jones and Eric Hiett. 

Starting pitcher Brandon Pond went 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs. In his ninth start of the season, the former ODAC pitcher of the year struck out eight batters and exited with an 8-3 lead.

"That's a really good ball club," Pond said after the game. "Good hitters, they're intense, they're well-coached, but so are we. I think two teams in a rubber match are going to be electric anytime, anywhere."

Pond stranded Shenandoah runners on second and third in the top of the 4th escaping the inning with back-to-back punch outs.

A key factor in the 2021 ODAC championship season, Pond acknowledged the Hornets' work ethic for propelling them within a win of another title.

"We've grinded for this day in and day out. We're so deep, both on the bench with position guys and in the bullpen. It's really a testament to how much work everybody's put in from top to bottom, guys who've played every game and guys that haven't gotten in; it takes a village," Pond said.

Baylor Cumbea tallied his 12th relief appearance of the season earning his third win of the 2023 campaign. Alex Gianascoli and freshman Mason Mcdowell combined to toss the final three innings, each allowing one hit.

On the hitting side, Avery Neaves sacrificed to left to score Brandon Garcia, and Ben Jones advanced home on a wild pitch to take the lead in the bottom of the 1st. Lynchburg held onto the lead for the remainder of the ballgame. 

Lynchburg scored five runs in the bottom of the 4th, including a pair of two-RBI singles from Holden Fiedler and Ben Jones. The 4th-inning rally forced Shenandoah to resort to its bullpen using a combined eight pitchers to finish the ballgame. 

Brandon Garcia scored two runs for the Hornets extending his on-base streak to 28 games. He has hit safely in 25 of the last 26 games.

Lynchburg will face Shenandoah in a rematch on Saturday, May 13 after the conference foes knocked off Roanoke in an elimination matchup Friday night. With a win, Lynchburg can win its second conference title in three years.

First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m. at Pitt Field at the University of Richmond. If Shenandoah wins the first game, a second matchup will be played to decide the 2023 championship. 

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--LYN--