SALEM – The Roanoke College baseball team went 1-1 against Shenandoah University in the Maroons ODAC opener on Sunday.  Roanoke won the first game 18-9, while Shenandoah took the second game, 7-3.  The Maroons  now have a record of 5-7, 1-1 in the ODAC, while the Hornets are now 6-2, 1-1 ODAC.
 
Both teams got off to an even start in the first innings, as each scored two runs in the first frame.  It was the bottom of the third inning when the Maroons built their giant lead.  Mark Manthe got things rolling for the Maroons with a leadoff double.  The next two batters walked to load the bases.  Cam Cassady hit a two RBI double to give the Maroons a 4-2 lead.  Nick Sburlati followed with an RBI single of his own, plating Aaron Burton.  Kluge hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Sburlati, while Bradley Mattox followed with an RBI double, scoring one more.  Manthe on his second trip to the plate in the inning, hit an RBI single, giving Roanoke its seventh run of the inning, and a 9-2 lead.
 
The fourth inning was just as successful for the Maroons as they scored six runs.  The inning included a two RBI single from Brian Kluge, followed by a two RBI home run from Mattox.  After four, the Maroons held a 15-2 lead.  Shenandoah got back on the board in the top of the sixth as a pair of doubles form John Wilt and Daniel Fresh allowed the Hornets to score three runs.  Shenandoah continued to battle in the seventh inning, as Andrew Cream hit a two RBI double, and Wilt hit another RBI double.  The Maroons answered in the bottom of the seventh with two runs after Manthe hit a two RBI double.  After seven, Roanoke led 17-8. 
 
The teams would get one final run in during the closing innings, including a home run from Shenandoah's Dan Powers, as Roanoke won the first game by the score of 18-9.
 
Bradley Mattox led the Maroons in hitting in the first contest, going 5-6 with four runs scored and three RBIs.  Brian Kluge, Mark Manthe, Aaron Burton, and Cam Cassady each finished with three RBIs as well. Manthe followed Mattox in hitting with three hits, and one run scored.  Cameron Holshouser (1-1) picked up the victory for the Maroons, giving up five runs off five hits, and striking out five.
 
John Wilt led the Hornets in hitting, going 3-5 on the afternoon.  J.J. McDaniel led Shenandoah in runs scored with three, followed by Corbin Lucas who tallied two.  Nick McMahon (0-2) was credited with the loss after giving up nine runs off six hits, and struck out two.
 
In the second game, Shenandoah got an early jump on Roanoke scoring one run in the top of the first inning.  Andrew Cream hit an RBI double to left field scoring J.J. McDaniel to take the 1-0 lead.  The Hornets plated another run in the top of the second inning as Lew Johnson hit an RBI single, allowing Michael Paul to cross the plate. 
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Daniel Fresh hit a triple to center field, allowing Daniel Powers to score and give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.  The Maroons weren't out of the contest, as Clark Crutchfield hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring Roanoke within two, 3-1.
The Hornets began to widen the gap in the top of the eighth inning.  Paul hit an RBI double to center field, while Daniel Freshley singled to center field plating John Wilt.  Lew Johnson continued the rally with an RBI single, bringing around Paul to score.   After the top of the eighth, Shenandoah led 6-1.
 
The Maroons battled back in the bottom of eighth inning.  Aaron Burton hit a double to left center field that scored Mattox and Kluge, and pulled Roanoke within three runs, 6-3.  Shenandoah widened the gap again in the top of the ninth scoring one run off of a solo home run from Nick Beall.  Shenandoah defeated Roanoke 7-3 in game number two.
 
Cam Cassady led the Maroons in hitting in the second game, going 2-4 on the afternoon.  Aaron Burton led the team with two RBIs, Brian Kluge, Bradley Mattox and Clark Crutchfield each plated one run.  Tyler Grouten was credited with the loss, after pitching seven innings, while giving up three runs off six hits and striking out four.
 
Lew Johnson, Andrew Creamer and Daniel Freshley led the Hornets in hitting with two hits each.  Michael Paul finished the contest with a team high two runs.  Freshley and Johnson tallied two RBIs each.  Phillip Morse was credited with the win, pitching six total innings, only allowing two hits and striking out seven.
 
The Maroons return to action on Thursday, March 7^th as they host Bluefield College at Kiwanis Field.  That game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM first pitch.
 
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