The Lancaster Bible College baseball team opened its 2018 season at nationally ranked Shenandoah on Wednesday afternoon, and though the Chargers played well for long stretches of both games, the Hornets found a way to win both, and sent Lancaster Bible to an 0-2 start. Shenandoah, ranked 12th in the opening D3Baseball.com Top 25 Poll, won game one, 1-0 in eight innings, and then took game two, 9-1.
Game 1: Shenandoah 1, Lancaster Bible 0 (8 innings)
Game Notes: Lancaster Bible senior Zack Leonard picked up right where he left off last season, as he was excellent for the Chargers in game one...Leonard allowed just one hit over the first four innings, and kept the Hornets' hitters off balance...Trouble for the Charges, was Shenandoah starter Colin Morse was equally as good, and Lancaster Bible didn't record its first hit until the top of the sixth...Leonard worked out of a jam in the fifth inning to keep it scoreless, as he put runners on first and second with just one out, but got a strike out and fly out to end the inning...Leonard worked out of another jam in the sixth inning, but gave up back-to-back singles in the bottom half of the seventh inning and was lifted for freshman Noah McMullen...McMullen threw a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with two outs, but was able to induce a pop fly to second and get out of the inning...Junior Adam Cohick singled for the Chargers in the top of the eighth, just the team's third hit, but the inning ended on a double play ball for the second time in three innings...McMullen got two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and appeared to be out of the inning, but a Lancaster Bible throwing error extended the inning, and the next batter up, Grant Thompson, singled home the winning run.
Inside the Box Score: Leonard was terrific for 6 2/3 innings, as he scattered six hits and struck out five, while walking just one...In addition to Cohick, sophomore Sam Taylor and junior Colin Myers had base hits for the Chargers...Senior Josh Mayer was the only other Lancaster Bible batter to reach base, as he drew a walk in the top of the first...Thompson was one of three batters to have two hits for the Hornets.
Game 2: Shenandoah 9, Lancaster Bible 1Â
Game Notes: Lancaster Bible got on the board first in game two, as junior Will Welsh and Senior JJ Sanchez drew walks, before Myers singled to left-center field, scoring Welsh...Myers and Sanchez eventually got to second and third base, but the Chargers couldn't plate another run in the inning...Shenandoah scored in every inning the rest of the way, including three times in the bottom of the sixth, to put the game away.
Inside the Box Score: Mayer finished 2-for-3 in game two, while Welsh drew two walks in two plate appearances...Cohick also had another hit, while Myers picked up the first RBI of the season for the Chargers...Lancaster Bible starter Dan Zimmerman was chased after 2+ innings, though he allowed just two earned runs...Junior Tyler Greenly worked 1 1/3 innings as well, giving up a run, and earning a strikeout...Freshman Trevor High saw his first collegiate action, throwing the final 2 2/3 innings, and allowed just one earned run, while striking out three...Lancaster Bible committed four errors.
Information Hodge Podge: Wednesday marked the first time Lancaster Bible has ever faced Shenandoah in baseball...This is the ninth time in the past 10 years Lancaster Bible has lost its season opener.
Up Next: Lancaster Bible is scheduled to play a doubleheader at Washington (Md.) on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m., though the forecast is not terrific for Saturday...Please check www.lbcchargers.com and our social media pages for updates regarding Saturday's doubleheader.
