BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior right fielder and team captain Greer Farr (Southern Shores, NC) had three hits and three RBIs, while junior first baseman and team captain Jase Howell (Portsmouth) and sophomore designated hitter Connor Powell (Midlothian), each had two hits and two RBIs to lead Hampden-Sydney College to an 8-0 non-conference baseball home win past Muskingum (OH) University on Friday night on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Senior right-hander and team captain Sterling Austin (Petersburg) pitched the first 6.2 shutout innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts to earn the pitching victory for the host Tigers against the visiting Fighting Muskies in the first game of the H-SC Invitational. The Garnet & Grey improved to 3-1 on the season, while MU dropped to 0-2.

H-SC scored eight runs on 12 hits with three errors … scoring two runs in the first inning, one run in the second, two runs each in the fourth, one run in the fifth and two runs in the eighth. MU had no runs on two hits with one error.

In the first, sophomore left fielder Sam Vick (Capron) (1-3) drew a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a single through the right side by senior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) (2-5), and both runners moved up a base courtesy of a passed ball. Howell (2-5, 2 RBIs) promptly followed with a two-run double down the right field line to plate both Vick and Jack Wilson for the early 2-0 advantage.

In the second, Vick singled to center field with one out and advanced to second on a two-out single to center field by Howell. Vick crossed the plate when Powell (2-5, 2 RBIs) followed with a run-scoring single through the right side for a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, Vick once-again drew a lead-off walk, stole second base with one out and advanced to third when Powell grounded out to first base. Powell was clutch again with an RBI single to left field scoring Vick, and Powell then stole second and later crossed the plate when Farr (3-4, 3 RBIs) hit a run-scoring triple to the fence in right center field for a 5-0 advantage.

In the fifth, freshman third baseman Mason Lester (Lawrence, KS) walked to begin the at-bat, advanced to second on a ground ball out off the bat of junior second baseman Matthew Kim (McLean), and scored on an RBI single to center field by junior catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville) (1-4, RBI) for a 6-0 lead.

In the eighth, Jack Wilson doubled to center field with one out and advanced to third when Powell reached on a fielding error at third base. Wilson and Powell crossed the plate on a two-run double down the right field line by Farr to provide for the final eight-run margin of victory.

Austin (1-0) took care of the rest as he started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 6.2 shutout innings, yielding just two hits with his career-high 10 strikeouts and only one walk. He retired the side in order in the third, fifth and sixth innings with two strikeouts each in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Sophomore right-hander Brady Wilson (Virginia Beach) tossed the final 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings of relief with three strikeouts and no walks for the combined pitching shutout.

H-SC will continue its competition in the H-SC Invitational and is scheduled to play Wabash (IN) College on Saturday night, February 21, at 6 p.m. at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.