BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) hit a solo home run in the first inning and had two RBIs, and sophomore catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville) had two hits and one RBI, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to an 8-2 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) baseball home win past Virginia Wesleyan University on Thursday afternoon on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Freshman left-hander Noah Lewis (Crewe) gained the pitching win for the host Tigers (12-10, 6-4) against the visiting Marlins (4-11, 0-8). The Garnet & Grey have now won eight of their last nine games.

H-SC scored eight runs on seven hits with four errors … scoring five runs in the first inning, one run in the second and two runs in the seventh. VWU scored two runs on seven hits with two errors … scoring the two runs in the eighth inning to avoid the shutout.

In the first, Wilson (1-4, 2 RBIs) got things started with a solo home run to left field to begin the at-bat. It was his second homer this season and the sixth of his career. Junior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (1-5) then reached base on a throwing error while bunting and stole second base ahead of a walk to junior designated hitter Matthew Arnold (Danville). Senior left fielder Christian Chambers (Midlothian) (1-3, RBI) later drew a two-out walk to load the bases, and Sanford crossed the plate when senior shortstop Jaxon Masterson (Raleigh, NC) (RBI) followed with a walk, as well, and Arnold scored when freshman second baseman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) (RBI) reached on a fielding error. Chambers and Masterson each scored on consecutive walks to Leonard (2-3, RBI) and Wilson—the latter at the plate for the second time in the first—for the early 5-0 advantage.

In the second, sophomore third baseman Jase Howell (Portsmouth) (2-3) doubled down the left field line with one out, stole third base and scored courtesy of a sacrifice fly RBI to center field by senior first baseman and team captain Grayson Harris (Moseley) (RBI) for a 6-0 lead.

In the seventh, Howell walked to begin the at-bat, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out RBI triple down the right field line by Chambers. Chambers later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly RBI to center field by Smith for an 8-0 advantage toward the final margin of victory.

Lewis (2-0) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey during a predetermined staff day and pitched the first 2.0 scoreless innings, yielding one hit with three strikeouts and no walks. Junior right-hander Sterling Austin (Petersburg)—last week's ODAC Pitcher of the Week—followed with a scoreless inning, yielding two hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Senior right-hander Gavin Gregory (Suffolk) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, as well, allowing one hit with one strikeout and one walk. Sophomore right-hander Hank Blanton (Midlothian) also pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, yielding one hit with one strikeout and one walk. Senior right-hander Justin Reynolds (Virginia Beach) pitching 1.0 inning, allowing two hits and two runs, one earned, with one strikeout and no walks. Sophomore left-hander Adam Emhoff (Chesapeake) tossed the final scoreless and hitless inning with one strikeout and no walks—the six Tigers combining for nine strikeouts on the day.

H-SC plays on the road at ODAC opponent and 27th-ranked Shenandoah University on Saturday, March 29, a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. in Winchester.