BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Sophomore left fielder Sam Vick (Capron) had two hits and two RBIs, while by junior catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville), sophomore designated hitter Connor Powell (Midlothian) and freshman shortstop Mason Lester (Lawrence, KS) each had two hits and one RBI, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 9-6 non-conference baseball home win past Wabash (IN) College on Saturday night on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Freshman right-hander Hayden Bynum (Richmond) pitched the final 2.2 scoreless innings to earn the pitching victory in relief for the host Tigers against the visiting Little Giants on day two of the H-SC Invitational. The Garnet & Grey improved to 4-1 on the season with their third-straight win, while Wabash dropped to 0-2.

H-SC scored nine runs on 12 hits with no errors … scoring two runs in the first inning, six runs in the decisive fourth and one run in the seventh. Wabash scored six runs on eight hits with four errors … scoring one run in the third inning, two runs in the fourth, one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh.

In the first, Vick (2-3, 2 RBIs) led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out double down the right field line by Powell (2-5, RBI), who later scored on a run-scoring single to left field by Lester (2-5, RBI) for an early 2-0 advantage.

In the fourth, Lester reached on an infield single, advanced to second when sophomore second baseman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded with no outs after sophomore third baseman Kennen Lewis (Dry Fork) (3-4) reached on a bunt single while attempting to sacrifice. Leonard (2-4, RBI) followed with an RBI single back to the mound to score Lester, while Vick and senior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) (RBI) each drew bases loaded walks to plate Smith and Lewis. Junior first baseman and team captain Jase Howell (Portsmouth) (1-5, RBI) then reached on a fielder's choice, but a throwing error by the second baseman allowed both Leonard and Vick to cross the plate, and Howell later scored via a sacrifice fly RBI to right field by senior right fielder and team captain Greer Farr (Southern Shores, NC) (RBI) for an 8-3 lead.

In the seventh, Lewis reached on a bunt single back to the mound, stole second and moved on to third courtesy of a wild pitch, scoring on a two-out, RBI single to center field by Vick for the final three-run margin of victory.

Sophomore left-hander Noah Lewis (Crewe) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 4.0 innings, allowing three hits and three runs, all earned, with four strikeouts and four walks. Sophomore right-hander Colin Mabe (Alton) pitched the next 2.1 innings of middle relief, allowing three hits and three runs, all earned, with five strikeouts and three walks. Bynum (1-0) tossed the final 2.2 scoreless innings for the mound win, yielding two hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

H-SC will play again at non-conference opponent William Peace University on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, Field 4, in Cary, North Carolina. Day three of the H-SC Invitational was canceled due to the rain and snow forecast for Sunday, Feb. 22, including the Tigers' scheduled game versus Franklin & Marshall (PA) College.