University of Lynchburg

Tysons, Va. -- After winning the first game of the ODAC Championship in emphatic fashion, the University of Lynchburg baseball team dropped its second game against Shenandoah and fell just short of its fourth consecutive ODAC title.

The Hornets appeared in the conference championship series for the fourth straight year and did so the hard way in the double-elimination format. After losing the first game of the final four weekend to Bridgewater, Lynchburg battled back with three straight wins and came one game away from the ODAC crown. On championship Saturday, Lynchburg defeated Shenandoah, 12-1, in seven frames before being outed in game two, 14-4.

In the first game, Shenandoah struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Lynchburg answered immediately. Benton Jones singled and later scored on an RBI single from Jack Pokorak before Quinn Madden launched a two-run home run to right field, giving the Hornets a 3-1 lead after the first.

Lynchburg added another run in the second when Kyle Moshier connected on a solo home run to left field. Lucas Marrero settled in on the mound from there, holding Shenandoah to just two hits over six innings while striking out nine.

The Hornets broke the game open in the sixth inning with eight runs. Jack Pokorak started the rally with a solo home run, and Kyle Flora followed later with an RBI single. Kyle Moshier was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run, and Jones drew a bases-loaded walk to add to the advantage. Pokorak delivered again with a two-run single, and Madden capped the inning with a two-run double to right center.

Pokorak finished with three hits and four RBI, while Madden drove in four runs and added a home run. Moshier contributed a home run and two RBI as Lynchburg advanced with the 12-1 win.

In the second game, Shenandoah used a big second inning to take control early. After scoring eight runs in the frame, the Hornets responded in the third when Quinn Madden lifted a sacrifice fly and Joe Munitz added an RBI single to make it 9-2.

Lynchburg added two more runs in the fifth. Brandon Garcia walked and Benton Jones doubled before Jack Pokorak drove in a run on a groundout. Madden followed with another sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 9-4.

Shenandoah added a run in the sixth and four more in the eighth to pull away late. Lynchburg finished with four runs on two hits while drawing five walks. Jones recorded the Hornets' lone extra-base hit with a double, while Madden drove in two runs and Munitz added an RBI single. Trent Judd provided solid relief in the middle innings, allowing one run while striking out five over 3.1 innings.

The Hornets will now await their fate in the NCAA tournament. The NCAA selection show for DIII baseball will be held on ncaa.com on Monday, May 11 at noon.

Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-date news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network.

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