HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA-The Hampden-Sydney baseball team handed Virginia Wesleyan its first conference loss, taking a 5-4 decision on Tuesday afternoon at Ty Cobb Ballpark. With the win, the Tigers improve to 5-11-1 on the season and 2-2 in ODAC play. The Marlins drop to 5-4 overall and 5-1 in conference.

The Tigers hit the board first and early, using RBI from Jeff Gray (Newport News, VA/Menchville) and Lee Carneal (Charlottesville, VA/Albemarle) to score Dustin Wiles (Belmont, NC/South Point) and Ryan Haynie (Melfa, VA/Nandua) to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Hampden-Sydney continued its momentum into the fourth, as Jackson Rogers (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) led off with a double and was batted in by a Haynie double. Haynie later scored on a Christian Hamlett (Midlothian, VA/Cosby) RBI to up the Tiger lead to 4-0.

The Marlins knocked in two in the top of the fifth, but the Tigers fired right back with a solo shot from Jack Elliott (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) in the bottom of the frame.

Virginia Wesleyan continued to chip away, adding two more runs in the sixth to make it a 5-4 game in favor of the Tigers.

The two runs in the sixth were all Virginia Wesleyan would get, as Teddy West (Lanexa, VA/Warhill) shut the Marlins out, pitching the final 3.1 shutout innings.

On the mound, Billy Nixon (Sedley, VA/Southampton) went five and a third to claim the victory, allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts. West fanned two.

As a team, Hampden-Sydney recorded 13 hits, including a 3-for-5 day from Haynie. Carneal, Lloyd, and Rogers each had two hits.

Hampden-Sydney will return to action Saturday, as the Tigers will travel to Winchester for a double header against Shenandoah. First pitch is slated for 12:00 PM.