HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA-In a back-and-forth game, the Tigers got the last strike, using a walk off single to down the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins 9-8. With the win, the Tigers improve to 20-11 overall and 6-6 in ODAC play, while the Marlins drop to 15-8 on the season and 9-4 in the ODAC.

The Marlins opened up the first inning hot, leading off the game with a triple and scoring three runs in the opening frame.

Pitching kicked in over the next three innings with neither team getting much on the base paths, but the Tigers used fielding mishaps to score Brian Goodwyn (Chester, VA/Thomas Dale) and Lee Carneal (Charlottesville, VA/Albemarle) in the fourth. Trailing just one with momentum, Jacob Fontana (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) drove in two with a triple and then scored on a Ryan Peevey (Wirtz, VA/Franklin) RBI-single.

The lead was short lived, however, as Taylor Erby hit a bases clearing double to put the Marlins up 6-5. Virginia Wesleyan was able to tack on one more before the top of the fifth was over, extending the lead to 7-5.

The Marlins pushed their lead again in the sixth, adding one run to go up 8-5.

In the bottom half of the seventh, the Tigers brought it within one with Reggie Johnson (Dunnsville, VA/Essex) scoring on a passed ball and Jayson Maitland (Colonial Heights, VA/Colonial Heights) scoring on a Lloyd RBI-single.

After a scoreless eighth, the Tigers were down to their final three outs. After Dustin Wiles (Belmont, NC/South Point) led off with a single and Carneal was hit by a pitch, Lloyd faked a bunt to drive an RBI-single down the first base line to tie the game at 8-8. Fontana then drove in the game winning run with a single.

Teddy West (Lanexa, VA/Warhill) pitched the first 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks with four strikeouts. Dylan Gonzales (Richmond, VA/J.R. Tucker) allowed just one run on two hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings, while Zach Perkins (Appomattox, VA/Appomattox) picked up the win after throwing two shutout innings with two strikeouts and a hit.

Hampden-Sydney had 12 hits to Virginia Wesleyan's nine. Lloyd had a team-high three hits while Fontana and Carneal each had two.

The Tigers return to action Saturday, April 9 as they host the Eagles of Bridgewater College for a double header. First pitch is set for 12:00 PM.