BOX SCORE GAME 1 | BOX SCORE GAME 2
 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Senior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) had a home run and two RBIs, and senior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) had two hits in game one, while junior first baseman and team captain Jase Howell (Portsmouth) and junior second baseman Matthew Kim (McLean) each had two hits and two RBIs in game two, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped both games of a non-conference and neutral-site baseball doubleheader to Spalding (KY) University on Saturday at Marshall University's Jack Cook Field in Huntington, West Virginia. Sophomore right-hander Reed Little (Spotsylvania) started and took the pitching setback in the 22-4, seven-inning run-rule opener, while junior right-hander Alex Caruso (Appomattox) took the mound loss in late relief in the 10-9 nightcap. The Tigers dropped to 15-20 overall, while the Golden Eagles improved to 22-10 overall.

In game one, H-SC scored four runs on five hits with two errors … scoring two runs in the first inning and two runs in the fourth. SU scored 22 runs on 18 hits with three errors … scoring three runs each in the first and second innings, six runs in the third, three runs in the fourth, six runs in the fifth and one run in the seventh.

In the first, Sanford (2-2) walked to begin the at-bat and crossed the plate ahead of Wilson (1-2, 2 RBIs), who slammed a one-out, two-run home run to left field for an early 3-2 deficit. It was Wilson's team-leading fifth homer this season.

In the fourth, junior designated hitter Brandon Shelhorse (Fairfax) reached base on a fielding error and scored on a two-out RBI double to right center field by freshman shortstop Mason Lester (Lawrence, KS) (1-2, RBI), who advanced to third on a fielding error. Lester crossed the plate when sophomore second baseman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) reached base on another fielding error for a 15-4 deficit toward the final margin.

Little (2-2) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 2.2 innings for the decision, allowing nine hits and 12 runs, all earned, with three strikeouts and four walks. Freshman right-hander Brady Hubbell (Raleigh, NC) pitched 3.1 innings of relief, allowing eight hits and nine runs, seven earned, with three strikeouts and one walk. Freshman left-hander Brody Smith (Lowell, NC) tossed the final 1.0 inning, yielding one hit and one run, earned, with one strikeout and one walk.

In game two, H-SC scored nine runs on 12 hits with one error … scoring three runs in the first inning, two runs in the fourth, and one run each in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. SU scored 10 runs on 13 hits with one error … scoring two runs each in the first and third innings, one run in the fifth, two runs in the sixth and three runs in the ninth.

In the first, senior designated hitter Matthew Arnold (Danville) (2-4, RBI) singled with one out, advanced to third on a double by Wilson (2-4) and the bases were loaded after a walk to senior left fielder and team captain Greer Farr (Southern Shores, NC) (2-4, RBI). Arnold scored on a ground ball RBI by Howell (2-4, 2 RBIs), and both Wilson and Farr crossed the plate on a two-run double by Kim (2-4, 2 RBIs) for an early 3-2 advantage.

In the fourth, Howell and Kim each singled ahead of a walk to freshmen shortstop Carter Burcume (Midlothian) (1-2) to load the bases with no outs. Howell scored on a sacrifice fly RBI to left field by sophomore third baseman Kennen Lewis (Dry Fork) (2 RBIs), and Kim crossed the plate courtesy of a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt for a 5-4 lead.

In the fifth, Wilson was hit by a pitch—the 12th time this season—and later scored with one out on an RBI single by Howell for a 6-5 advantage.

In the sixth, junior catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville) (1-4) doubled with two outs and after a walk to Sanford, scored on a run-scoring single by Arnold to tie the contest at 7-7.

In the seventh, Howell was hit by a pitch and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly RBI to left field by Lewis for an 8-7 lead.

In the eighth, Wilson singled with two outs and promptly stole second base and scored when Farr followed with an RBI double for a 9-7 advantage.

Senior right-hander Cooper York (Gastonia, NC) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey—his first collegiate start—and pitched the first 7.0 innings, scattering 11 hits and seven runs, all earned, with two strikeouts and two walks. Caruso (0-1) pitched 1.2 innings of relief for the decision, allowing two hits and three runs, all earned, with one strikeout and one walk. Freshman right-hander Hayden Bynum (Richmond) recorded the final out, allowing no hits and no runs with no strikeouts and one walk.

H-SC is scheduled to play Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opponent Virginia Wesleyan University on Tuesday afternoon, April 21, at 4 p.m. on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.