LYNCHBURG, Va. - Shenandoah scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning Thursday and  led the rest of the way as the Hornets defeated Bridgewater College, 8-1, in the opening round of the ODAC Baseball Tournament played at the Liberty University Baseball Stadium.

Joe Coleman and Tristan Baker got things started for the Hornets with back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the first against Eagles starter Ryan Leake. Abel Arocho then hit a grounder up the middle that was fielded behind the bag by Austin Batten. Batten's throw to shortstop Cavin Clyde covering the bag at second was off target and the error left the bases loaded for the Hornets with no outs.

Jake Loew's grounder to short scored Coleman for a 1-0 Hornets lead. John Wilt then walked to reload the bases and Nate Loman followed with a sacrifice fly, making the score 2-0. A single by Lew Johnson scored Arocho and Zach Herbaugh's hit to right plated Wilt, making the score 4-0. After Jake Makowski walked, Coleman drove in two runs with a single through the left side of the infield to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough support for Shenandoah's hard-throwing lefty Michael Scimanico. The Hornets senior worked into  the seventh inning, allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out seven and walked seven. Ryan Mossman finished up with three scoreless innings of relief for the Hornets.

Bridgewater avoided the shutout with a run in the seventh. Scimanico walked Dylan Horne and Batten and then hit Clyde with a pitch  to load the bases. Mossman then entered the game and retired Chris King on a foul ball to the right side. First-baseman Loman reached over the fence to make a nice catch for the out, but Horne tagged up on the catch and scored from third for Bridgewater's lone run.

The Eagles managed just six hits - two of those by senior catccher Hunter Hensley.

Bridgewater, now 21-18, will try to stave off elimination Friday morning when the Eagles meet Virginia Wesleyan College in an elimination game. The game will be played at Lynchburg City Stadium beginning at 11:00 a.m. Virginia Wesleyan lost in the first round game Thursdsay to Randolph-Macon, 11-9.