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BURLINGTON, N.C. — Fourth-seeded Shenandoah University scored nine unanswered runs to erase an early deficit as the Hornets beat top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan College 9-2 in the USA South Conference Touranment on Saturday afternoon at Burlington Athletic Stadium. With the victory, Shenandoah (31-6) advanced to the conference championship on Sunday.
Ferrum (14-14) went ahead in the second inning with the help of a Kevin Marshall RBI single. Marshall later scored on a throwing error to put the Panthers in front 2-0.
That lead held until the fifth inning when Shenandoah got to Ferrum starter Trey Finch. The Hornets led off their half of the inning with a double and two singles, with the second single scoring Jasen Eberz from third base. Shenandoah tied the game at 2-2 on a Ferrum error, but the Panthers got out of the jam without further harm thanks to an outstanding play in the field. The Hornets had the bases loaded, but Ferrum center fielder Travis Crump made a diving catch in left-center for the final out to save multiple runs from scoring.
The Hornets took a 4-2 lead the next inning on a pair of RBI singles through the right side, and they continued the scoring from there. Shenandoah added two more runs in the seventh and three runs in the eighth to pull away.
Kevin Brashears led Shenandoah offensively with a 4-for-4 day with one RBI. Jesse Henry also added three hits, two runs scored and one RBI.
Matthew Davis (2-1) pitched the final 3 1/3 innings to pick up the win in relief for the Hornets.
Ferrum will face the winner of Saturday afternoon’s Christopher Newport/N.C. Wesleyan game (3:30 p.m.). The winner of that 7 p.m. start will advance to championship on Sunday to play Shenandoah.
