VIRGINIA BEACH -- One big inning put Shenandoah University's baseball Hornets on track Sunday.

The Hornets, ranked 19th nationally in one poll and 26th in another, broke open a tight Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest with an eight-run inning that helped catapult the team to a 21-5 victory against the host Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College.

VWC (9-16, 3-7) trailed just 2-1 after two innings, before league-leading Shenandoah (18-4, 10-1) connect for nine hits in the top of the third to help drive in eight runs to pull away for good.

Shenandoah belted seven consecutive hits to start the third, with the big shot coming from Andrew Creamer (Lovettsville/Loudoun Valley) in the middle of it all. He ripped a three-run triple to right center and the Hornets kept things going with three more singles before Billy Arens (Purcellville, Va./Home schooled) struck out swinging.

The Marlins brought in Dylan Stoskus (Asburn/Arlington Bishop O'Connell) to pitch after that, taking over for Alex Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic), and the Hornets managed only one more hit. But, Shenandoah used a walk and and error to help keep the runs scoring.  Michael Paul (Red Hill, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and Cream both had two hits each in the inning.

Virginia Wesleyan got two of the runs back in the bottom of the inning, which started with rookie Nic Kurz (Yorktown/Grafton) hitting a single through the left side. Senior Brett Sutryk (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) followed with a single to right and junior Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) launched a two-run double to left center field.

But, offense eluded the Marlins through the next four innings, while Shenandoah tacked on seven more runs to open up a 17-3 lead.  That scoring stopped in the top of the eighth however, as rookie Jake Miner (Kingman, Ariz./Kingman Academy) took over on the mound for VWC.  He turned in a solid effort, shutting down the Shenandoah offense by retiring the Hornets in order.

The momentum of that effort carried over into the bottom of the inning for the Marlins who scored twice. RookieTy Boothe (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) reached base on an error and moved to third when George Annunziata (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) singled to right field. Both runners scored when Casey King (Virginia Beach/Bayside) ripped a double to center field. 

Shenandoah scored four more in the top of the ninth and put away the Marlins 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Shenandoah cranked out 24 hits overall, led by Paul with a 5-for-7 showing, driving in four runs. One of his hits was a double. Eight Hornets recorded two or more hits, including Daniel Freshley (Montgomery Village, Md./Gaithersburg), who finished with three, including a triple and a home run.  He drove in four runs.

Darrell Thompson (Middletown, Va./Sherando) improved to 5-1 on the mound for the Hornets, working seven innings.  He struck out nine batters, walked three and allowed seven hits and three earned runs. Cody Vorous (Winchester, Va./James Wood) pitched in relief.

Virginia Wesleyan used five pitchers overall, with Tucci taking the loss and falling t0 3-2.  He struck out two and walked one, but allowed 11 hits and nine earned runs.  Stoskus stayed the longest on the mound, working four innings.  He struck out five, walked four and gave up eight hits and three earned runs.  Rookie Craig Chrisman (Verona/Staunton Riverheads), sophomore Jake Caraway (Alexandria/Edison), and Miner all followed in relief.

The Marlins finished with nine hits, led by Sutryk with two.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Tuesday, April 1, hosting Randolph-Macon College's Yellow Jackets in ODAC action at 3:30 p.m.

--AMDG--