Baseball Eliminated From NCAA Tournament with Loss to Shenandoah

Winchester, VA| The St. Joseph's University (L.I.) baseball team fell victim to a late-game rally by #21 Shenandoah University, in game five of the NCAA Winchester Regional on Saturday evening. The Hornets scored eight runs over the final three innings to claim the 10-8 win and eliminate the Golden Eagles from the tournament.

For the third straight game, the Golden Eagles struck in the first inning. Phil Krpata (1-for-2, R, RBI) led off the game with a walk and after swiping second he came around to score on a Shenandoah fielding error. A batter later, Brian Forbes (1-for-5, RBI) sent a ball to the left-center gap for an RBI double scoring Paul Gugliuzzo (R) for a 2-0 lead.

The Hornets got one back in the top of the second when Pearce Bucher doubled and came in to score two batters later on a groundout to shortstop Ryan Decoursey (2-for-4, 2 R)

SJLI created some distance when they batted around for three runs in the bottom of the third. Decoursey reached on a single to right and two batters later, Joe Sanguedolce (1-for-4, R, 2 RBI) drilled a two-run shot over the left-field fence pushing the Golden Eagles ahead 4-1.

Following a scoreless fourth, the SU took advantage of a Golden Eagle error for their second run of the game, 5-2.

The bottom half of the inning had the Hornets returning the favor when a throwing error from SU pitcher Carson Kulina resulted in a pair of Golden Eagle runs, 7-2.

St. Joseph's tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh when Decoursey doubled and came in to score on a dropped third strike later in the inning.

The Hornets would not go quietly, following an SJLI pitching change, a pinch-hit grand slam off the bat of Sam Horn in the top of the seventh cut the deficit to just two, 8-6. SU added another run via an RBI single from Kyle Lisa chasing reliever Dante Morabito and moving the score to 8-7.

Shenandoah tied the ball game courtesy of a solo home run by Haden Madagan in the top of the eighth. The Hornets took the lead when Henry Delavergne tripled and came in on a squeeze from Kooper Anderson, A SJLI error led to another run for the Hornets moving the score to 10-8.

The Golden Eagles brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but stranded a runner when Nick Corsaro grounded out to end the game.

Reliever Mike Manzolillo (L, 3-1) suffered the loss allowing three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. SJLI starter Ryan Foran (1-2) got the no-decision after allowing five runs on six hits with a strikeout.in 6.1 innings of work

The Golden Eagles end their season with an overall record of 24-14. The Hornets improve to 36-11-1 and advance to take on Catholic University on Sunday.