WINCHESTER, Va. – The Bridgewater baseball team missed its opportunity to move into a tie for first place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) regular season standings as the Eagles lost to Shenandoah University 9-0 Thursday afternoon at Bridgeforth Field.

Shenandoah (28-7, 17-3 in the ODAC) clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming ODAC tournament with Thursday's victory.

Hornets' starter Darrell Thompson hurled the complete game shutout to improve his record to 8-1 on the season. The lefty allowed just five hits while striking out 10 batters and walking just two.

Shenandoah plated three runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Hornets used three hits along with three Eagles errors to plate the runs against Bridgewater starter Dillon Via.

Leadoff batters Billy Arens led off the bottom of the first for the Hornets with an infield single and advanced around to third on the play on a throwing error. Corbin Lucas followed with a single, giving the host team a 1-0 lead. With one out, Michael Paul singled to put runners at first and second. Two wild pitches allowed Lucas to score for a 2-0 Shenandoah lead. After Dan Powers walked, Daniel Freshley reached on an error with Paul scoring on the miscue, making the score 3-0. Joe Bittner plated the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, pushing the margin to 4-0.

Bridgewater 24-9, 12-5 in the ODAC) had chances early against Thompson but the Eagles were unable to manufacture any runs.

Brendan Howell led off the third with a double and Tyler Hoffman walked, giving the Eagles two runners on with no outs. Bridgewater was unable to execute the sacrifice bunt situation and Thompson retired the next three in order to keep the Eagles off the board.

Bridgewater threatened again in the fourth, loading the bases against the Shenandoah ace. Bryan Sanderson led off with a single, but Thompson retired the next two batters. With two outs, Bay Liskey singled through the left side of the infield and Howell walked to load the sacks. Thompson caught Tyler Hoffman looking at a called third strike to hang another zero on the scoreboard.

Bridgewater freshman Jordan Showalter gave the Eagles a chance to come back as he held the Hornets offense in check in innings two through six.

Showalter allowed just two hits and one unearned run during that stretch as the contest moved to the seventh with Shenandoah holding a 5-0 lead.

The Hornets finally got to Showalter in the seventh. Freshley doubled to left center with one out and Bittner followed with a two-run homer to left, making the score 7-0.

Shenandoah added two unearned runs in the eighth against reliever Tyler Slanovec to complete the 9-0 victory.

After loading the bases in the fourth inning, the Eagles managed just three base runners the rest of the way. Nick Fulk singled in the fifth, Hoffman reached on an error in the eighth and Zach Hynes singled in the ninth as Thompson stymied the Eagles offense over the final innings.

Only four of Shenandoah's nine runs were earned as the Eagles committed six errors in the game.

The Eagles will try to secure the No. 2 seed for the tournament over the next two days. Friday, Bridgewater travels to Eastern Mennonite for a 1:30 p.m. contest. The Eagles return home Saturday to wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader against Lynchburg College. First pitch is set for noon.

Prior to Saturday's first game the Bridgewater seniors will be recognized. In between games, the new dugouts will be dedicated.