BOX SCORE GAME 1 | BOX SCORE GAME 2
 
BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Sophomore third baseman Jase Howell (Portsmouth) had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs in the first game, and sophomore left fielder Jake Moore (Dry Fork) had three hits and two RBIs and junior designated hitter Matthew Arnold (Danville) had three hits, as well, while freshman second baseman Sam Vick (Capron) had one hit and one RBI in the second game, as Hampden-Sydney College split an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) baseball doubleheader on the road at Bridgewater College on Saturday afternoon in Bridgewater. Junior right-hander Alex Fitz-Hugh (Chesterfield) gained the pitching win in relief in the 9-6 opener, while senior right-hander Gavin Gregory (Suffolk) started and took the mound setback in the 4-1 nightcap for the visiting Tigers (18-19, 10-12) against the host Eagles (24-13-1, 14-7-1).
 
The Garnet & Grey have secured their participation in the upcoming eight-team ODAC Tournament that begins on Friday, May 2, though the official tournament seeding and pairings will not be announced until late Sunday, April 27, following the completion of all regular season conference contests.
 
In game one, H-SC scored nine runs on 12 hits with one error … scoring one run in the first inning, two runs in the third, three runs in the fifth, one run in the seventh and two runs in the ninth. BC scored six runs on seven hits with five errors … scoring three runs each in the first and third innings.
 
In the first, Arnold (3-5) singled through the left side with one out, but was out at second base when senior first baseman and team captain Grayson Harris (Moseley) (1-5, RBI) reached on a fielder's choice. Harris then stole second base and scored on an RBI single to left field by Moore (3-4, 2 RBIs) for an early 1-0 advantage.
 
In the third, junior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) was hit by a pitch with one out and crossed the plate after another single by Arnold that involved an error on the play with Arnold reaching third. Arnold scored on a ground ball RBI off the bat of Harris to tie it at 3-3.
 
In the fifth, Arnold singled to right field to open the frame, advanced to second on a single up the middle by Harris and the bases were loaded with no outs when Moore singled through the left side. Junior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (2-5, RBI) followed with an RBI single to center field to plate Arnold, and Howell (2-5, 3 RBIs) followed with a two-run single to center field that scored both Harris and Moore to tie it at 6-6.
 
In the seventh, Howell hit a two-out solo home run, his first of the season and second of his career, for what proved to be the game-winning hit and a 7-6 lead.
 
In the ninth, Harris reached on a one-out throwing error, stole second base and scored on an RBI triple to right center field by Moore, and Moore crossed the plate when Sanford reached on a fielding error for a 9-6 margin toward the important game one triumph that secured the Tigers' conference postseason opportunity.
 
Freshman left-hander Bobby Holihan (Yorktown) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and six runs, four earned, with no strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore right-hander Logan Benton (North Chesterfield) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of middle relief, yielding two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Fitz-Hugh (4-3) pitched the final 4.2 scoreless innings for the victory, scattering two hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

In game two, H-SC scored one run on six hits with three errors … scoring the one run in the fifth inning. BC scored four runs on eight hits with one error … scoring three runs in the third inning and one run in the sixth.
 
In the fifth, Howell (1-4) doubled to right center field with one out, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out RBI infield single by Vick (1-3, RBI) for a 3-1 deficit toward the final three-run margin of defeat.
 
Gregory (2-3) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, two earned, with five strikeouts and one walk. Freshman right-hander Brady Wilson (Virginia Beach) tossed the final 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings of relief with a career-high four strikeouts and one walk.
 
H-SC has two non-conference games remaining on the schedule, and will play on the road at the University of Mary Washington on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. in Fredericksburg … before returning home to welcome Christopher Newport University on Monday, April 28, at 4 p.m. on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. UMW is receiving votes in this week's ABCA/NCAA Division III Coaches Poll.
 
The CNU game to close the regular season can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM, and will also be available worldwide on the Internet at wvhl.net or via the TuneIn Radio App, while available to watch as well on the Tiger Sports Network live video stream at hscathletics.com.