BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior first baseman and team captain Grayson Harris (Moseley) had four hits and two RBIs, and freshman catcher Robert Chapman (Woodbridge) had a double and two RBIs, as well, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 14-8 home-opening and non-conference baseball decision to Franklin & Marshall (PA) College on Saturday evening on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Freshman right-hander Brady Wilson (Virginia Beach) took the pitching setback for the host Tigers (1-1) against the visiting Diplomats (1-0).

H-SC scored eight runs on 10 hits with two errors … scoring three runs each in the sixth and eighth innings, and two runs in the ninth inning. F&M scored 14 runs on 15 hits with one error … scoring six runs in the second inning, three runs in the fifth and five runs in the sixth inning.

In the sixth, Harris (4-4, 2 RBIs) led off with a single to center field and advanced to second when senior left fielder Christian Chambers (Midlothian) followed with a walk. Senior right fielder and team captain Christian Lancaster (Danville) (1-1) was hit-by-a-pitch with one out to load the bases, and both Harris and Chambers scored when Chapman (1-4, 2 RBIs) followed with a two-run double to right field, moving Lancaster to third. After a walk to junior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) loaded the bases again, Lancaster crossed the plate on a ground ball RBI by sophomore second baseman Jase Howell (Portsmouth) (2-5, RBI), making it a 14-3 contest.

In the eighth, Howell reached on a one-out single through the left side and was pinch-run for by freshman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville). Smith moved to second when freshman Jack Wells (Sutherland) drew a walk, and Smith scored when senior Jahiem Green (Stafford) reached on a throwing error while pinch-hitting, advancing to second with Wells out on the play. Green crossed the plate when Harris followed with a run-scoring single to right field, and Harris would later score when junior team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (RBI) drew a bases loaded walk with two outs for a 14-6 margin.

In the ninth, Jack Wilson walked to begin the at-bat, moved to second when Smith was hit-by-a-pitch and advanced to third when Wells walked, as well, loading the bases with no outs. Wilson scored on a one-out sacrifice fly RBI to right field by Harris, and Smith scored again courtesy of a wild pitch for the final six-run margin.

Brady Wilson (0-1) started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched the first 4.0 innings for the loss, scattering five hits and six runs, only one earned, with three strikeouts and one walk. Senior right-hander Justin Reynolds (Virginia Beach) followed with two-thirds of an inning, allowing four hits and three runs, all earned, with no strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Reed Little (Spotsylvania) pitched two-thirds of an inning, as well, yielding one hit and four runs, all earned, with no strikeouts and three walks. Senior right-hander Gavin Gregory (Suffolk) tossed the final 3.2 innings, scattering five hits and one run, earned, with five strikeouts and one walk.

H-SC and F&M are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday, February 23, beginning at 12 p.m. at Wurdeman Stadium.

H-SC Athletic Communications offers an apology for the numerous technical issues encountered today involving the facility public address system, online live stats and the video streaming, as well. Every effort is being made to resolve everything for Sunday's two games to complete the weekend's three-game series.