ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa — Elizabethtown College baseball found itself in the middle of yet another game in which the score tilted from team-to-team as the innings progressed. No. 13/19 Shenandoah delivered the final blow, however, taking a lead on a two-run home run in the seventh to go up 4-3 before tacking on a security run in the ninth to defeated the Blue Jays, 6-4, Thursday afternoon at Kevin Scott Boyd Stadium.

Jake Pendergraft sent a 1-0 pitch deep over the left field fence in the top of the seventh to push his team back into the lead and eventually to the win. Pendergraft singled in the top of the ninth to score Corbin Lucas once again, adding the additional sixth run in the Hornets' 6-4 win.

Elizabethtown (11-7) held the lead against its first ranked opponent this season on two separate occasions. The Blue Jays had ample opportunities to convert hits and free passes into runs, but miscues on the base paths prevented E-town's lead from growing.

Kyle Gable stormed the bases after a errant throw to first on a double play attempt in the fourth inning. Kevin Berkheiser continued the scoring in the same inning after falling behind in the count 0-2. Berkheiser singled to the outfield to score Steve Motika from third base.

Shenandoah (20-7) went to work in the next half inning. The Hornets manufactured three runs off of three hits and a sacrifice fly. Shenandoah set up the scoring with two singles to start the inning. Michael Paul, attempting to bunt the ball into an area to move up the runners, was able to stretch out a hit on the play. Paul's bunt single score Nick Beall from third for the first Hornet run. Michael Minch drove in an RBI on a single and Joey Donofrio lifted the first pitch he saw to left field for a sac fly RBI to put SU into the 3-2 lead.

The E-town batters finally started to solve the pitching of Shenandoah's Jeff Staneck in the sixth. Dillon Tagle, on one of his three hits of the day, doubled to deep left center field to start the rally. Matt Reade singled to the left field grass to split the runners on first and third base. After Matt Riegler entered the game, Pat Mulligan made the most of his pinch-hit opportunity at the dish. Mulligan tripled to right field on the first pitch Riegler tossed. Reade and Tagle's runs bounced Elizabethtown back into the lead 4-3.

SU's home run in the top of the seventh was its 23rd of the season, a number that ranks the Hornets all alone in third in NCAA Division III. The Blue and Gray were primed to get right back into the game, however. Gable and designated hitter Jon Bacher each pulled out singles to the left side. Unlucky were the Blue Jays, though, as Gable was thrown out trying to go first-to-third on Bacher's single to left. An out later the inning was over.

The submarine throwing Kyle Scallion was given the ball in the final stretch. Scallion preserved the Hornets two-run lead with three swinging strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth. Reigler earned his third win of the year, with Scallion picking up the save while striking out four-of-six batters faced.

Mark Minisce received the first blemish on his record this season. Minisce had a quality outing against one of the best hitting teams in the nation and struck out four in a complete game of work.

Jays shortstop Gable and catcher Tagle led the team with three hits and a run each, while Reade accumulated two hits and an RBI. E-town out-hit Shenandoah 13-9 in the home loss.

Elizabethtown's defense was disciplined throughout the game with Tyler Weary, Gable and Luke Gatti turning a 4-6-3 double play to end Shenandoah's eighth inning charge.

Elizabethtown hits the road tomorrow for the first game of a weekend series with conference opponent Widener. Then it's back home Saturday for a doubleheader with The Pride starting at noon.