BOX SCORE
 
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Sophomore second baseman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) had two hits and two RBIs, and senior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) added one hit and two RBIs, as well, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 7-5 non-conference baseball decision at home to Methodist (NC) University on Tuesday afternoon on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Senior right-hander Cooper York (Gastonia, NC) took the pitching setback in late relief. The host Tigers dropped to 10-15 overall, while the visiting Monarchs improved to 11-14 overall.

H-SC scored five runs on eight hits with two errors … scoring two runs in the second inning and one run each in the third, fifth and sixth. MU scored seven runs on 13 hits with two errors … scoring one run in the second inning, two runs in the third, and one run each in the fourth, sixth, decisive eighth and ninth.

In the second, Smith (2-3, 2 RBIs) led off with a single to left center field, advanced to second on a single to left field by sophomore third baseman Kennen Lewis (Dry Fork) (1-4) and the bases were loaded with no outs after a walk to freshman shortstop Mason Lester (Lawrence, KS). Following a fly-ball out, Wilson (1-5, 2 RBIs) provided a two-run single to left field that scored both Smith and Lewis for a 2-1 advantage.

In the third, sophomore designated hitter Seth Truesdale (Midlothian) began the at-bat with a walk and promptly stole second base, advancing to third on a fly-ball out off the bat of junior first baseman Jase Howell (Portsmouth). Smith plated Truesdale with a sacrifice fly RBI to right field to tie the contest at 3-3.

In the fifth, Truesdale again led off and reached base on a fielding error at third base, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved on to third on a ground ball out by Howell. Smith followed with a run-scoring single to right field to score Truesdale and tie it again, this time at 4-4.

In the sixth, junior catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville) began the at-bat with another walk and later crossed the plate with two outs when senior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (2-4, RBI) provided a clutch RBI double to the wall in left center field, tying it at 5-5.

Unfortunately, the Monarchs added the game-winning run in the eighth toward the final two-run margin.

Sophomore right-hander Reed Little (Spotsylvania) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 6.0 innings, scattering seven hits and five runs, three earned, with five strikeouts and three walks. York (0-1) followed with 2.0 innings of relief for the loss, allowing three hits and one run, earned, with one strikeout and no walks. Freshman left-hander Garnett Power (Midlothian) tossed the final 1.0 inning, yielding three hits and one run, earned, with no strikeouts and no walks.

H-SC has a short turnaround before hosting Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opponent (RV)Randolph-Macon College (tomorrow night) on Wednesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. under the lights at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.