BOX SCORE

ASHLAND, Va. -- Freshman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) had career-highs of five hits and five RBIs, and sophomore catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville) had two hits and three RBIs, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 20-11 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Baseball Tournament Quarterfinal decision on the road at (RV)Randolph-Macon College on Sunday afternoon in Ashland. Junior right-hander Sterling Austin (Petersburg) took the pitching setback in relief for the visiting and #7 seed Tigers against the host and #2 seed Yellow Jackets (27-13). The Garnet & Grey have completed their 2025 season with a final record of 19-23.
 
H-SC scored 11 runs on 16 hits with one error … scoring one run in the first inning, two runs in the fourth, and four runs each in the fifth and sixth. RMC scored 20 runs on 22 hits with two errors … scoring five runs in the third inning, eight runs in the fifth, five runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh.
 
In the first, senior first baseman and team captain Grayson Harris (Moseley) (2-5) began the contest with a high-bouncing infield single over the mound and promptly stole second base to quickly get into scoring position. Junior designated hitter Matthew Arnold (Danville) (2-5) singled to left center field to move Harris to third, before sophomore left fielder Jake Moore (Dry Fork) (0-5, RBI) reached on an RBI fielder's choice that scored Harris. Moore then stole second base, as well, but junior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (1-4) was called out on strikes. Sophomore third baseman Jase Howell (Portsmouth) (3-3) reached on an infield single to shortstop with two outs, advancing Moore to third base, but junior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) (0-3) struck out swinging as the Tigers were ahead early at 1-0.
 
In the second, senior shortstop Jaxon Masterson (Raleigh, NC) (1-5, 2 RBIs) flied out to right field, before Gavin Smith (5-5, 5 RBIs) reached on a bloop single to left field. Noah Leonard (2-4, 3 RBIs) put down a sacrifice bunt back to the mound to move Smith over to second base with two outs, but Harris grounded out to second base.
 
In the third, Arnold fouled out to the right side on the first pitch before Moore struck out swinging and Sanford was out at first on a line-drive back to the pitcher, who knocked it down and made the throw to first base. RMC scored five runs on seven hits in the third for a 5-1 lead.
 
In the fourth, Howell and Wilson were each hit by a pitch to begin the at-bat—the 17th time that Wilson has been hit by a pitch this season—and Howell advanced to third base courtesy of a throwing error on a failed pick-off attempt at second base. Masterson then popped out to the shortstop, and Wilson stole second base, ahead of a two-run single up the middle by Smith that scored both Howell and Wilson. Leonard followed and grounded out to the shortstop with Smith moving to second, and Harris then drew a walk, before Arnold singled through the right side; however, Smith was out at the plate on the throw from the right fielder—leaving it a 5-3 contest.
 
In the fifth, Moore grounded out to second base before Sanford drew a walk from Macon's second pitcher on the day and then stole second base. Howell followed with a single to left field, but Wilson was called out on strikes for the second out. Masterson, however, promptly hit a run-scoring single up the middle to plate Sanford, and Smith followed with another clutch two-out hit … a two-run double to the wall in left center field to score both Howell and Masterson—all the way from first. Leonard then added a bloop single over the first baseman's head into right field that plated Smith. Following another pitching change, Harris singled to right field to move Leonard to second, but Harris was out at second base on a fielder's choice off the bat of Arnold. The Garnet & Grey, though, were back in front 7-5. The lead was short-lived as RMC answered with eight runs on seven hits in the fifth to lead 13-7.
 
In the sixth, Moore struck out swinging before Sanford singled past a diving third baseman into left field. Howell was hit by a pitch, moving Sanford to second, and Wilson followed with a four-pitch walk to load the bases with one out. Masterson reached on a fielding error at shortstop with Sanford scoring, and Smith reached on a high-bouncing RBI infield single to the left side to plate Howell on a play that involved a collision between the third baseman and the pitcher … leaving the bases still full. Leonard then hit a two-run single to left field after fouling off a couple of 3-2 pitches that scored both Wilson and Masterson with Smith moving to second. After a pitching change, Harris struck out swinging and Arnold flied out to deep right center field; however, the Tigers were back within striking distance at 13-11. Unfortunately, RMC responded again, this time with five runs on four hits, including a grand slam, to extend the lead to 18-11.
 
In the seventh, Moore struck out swinging and Sanford grounded out to shortstop before Howell singled to left center field with two outs. Wilson then flied out to center field. RMC added two runs on one hit with an error to push the deficit to 20-11, where it stood for the final margin.
 
In the eighth, Masterson struck out looking ahead of Smith connecting on his fifth hit of the day, a single to right center field, before Leonard flied out to straight-away center field near the warning track and Harris lined out to center field.
 
In the ninth, senior Jahiem Green (Stafford) (0-1) grounded out to third base before senior team captain Christian Lancaster (Danville) (0-1) and senior Christian Chambers (Midlothian) (0-1) each struck out swinging—all three in pinch-hitting appearances.
 
Freshman left-hander Bobby Holihan (Yorktown) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and runs, all earned, with one strikeout and no walks. Freshman right-hander Brady Wilson (Virginia Beach) pitched 1.2 innings, yielding five hits and two runs, both earned, with no strikeouts and no walks. Sterling Austin (4-6), who earned the pitching win in game two on Saturday with the final 5.1 innings, faced five batters and allowed three hits and five runs, all earned, with no strikeouts, one walk and a hit batter. Senior right-hander Gavin Gregory (Suffolk), who started game two on Saturday with the first 3.2 innings, tossed 1.0-inning plus, yielding four hits and four runs, all earned, with no strikeouts and one walk. Senior right-hander Justin Reynolds (Virginia Beach) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and three runs, two earned, with one strikeout and two walks. Sophomore right-hander Logan Benton (North Chesterfield), who pitched in game one on Saturday with an inning, tossed the final 1.2 scoreless innings, yielding one hit with no strikeouts and two walks.
 
As mentioned, H-SC completes the season with a final overall record of 19-23, finishing 10-12 in the ODAC. The Tigers, under the direction of first-year head coach Michael Mulvey, could return as many as 35 team members for 2026.