BURLINGTON, N.C. - No. 17 Shenandoah University reached the 30-win mark in baseball for just the second time in school history Friday afternoon with a 17-5 win over top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan in the second round of the USA South Conference baseball tournament.
The Hornets (30-6) banged out 21 hits to dispatch the No. 1 Bishops (21-16) in just five innings.
SU scored five runs in the first as all nine batters took a turn at the plate, added four more in the second and after N.C. Wesleyan cut the deficit to 10-5 with a four-run fifth, scored a total of seven runs in its next two at-bats to invoke the NCAA mercy rule.
Coach Kevin Anderson got his second complete game of the tournament from his pitching staff as senior Josh Simons improved to 4-0 this season by striking out eight against eight hits and four walks.
Simons, who struck out the first two Bishops batters in the fifth before allowing that four-run rally, was supported by a lineup that saw all nine of its starter get at least one hit.
Sophomore Greg Van Sickler, who like Simons struck out eight in his complete game performance on the mound in the tournament opener, had a game-high four hits in five at-bats from his first base position Friday.
Van Sickler also drove in two runs.
His classmate, Kevin Brashears, was 3 for 5 with four RBI from his leadoff spot while Jason Eberz drove in five runs on a three-run dinger and a double.
Freshman designated hitter Cory Nelson rounded out the big day at the plate with three hits and three RBI in five at-bats.
Ben Knowles (5-2) took the loss for NCWC after allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk in 1.0 innings. He was replaced three batters into the second after allowing a solo home run by Brashears and a triple to right center by Scott Lambert.
Luke Williford had two hits for the Bishops, who will play in an elimination game Saturday at 3:30 against the winner of the Averett/Christopher Newport contest.
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