Hampden-Sydney College

GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Sophomore catcher Seth Truesdale (Midlothian) had three hits and four RBIs, and senior designated hitter Matthew Arnold (Danville) and junior first baseman and team captain Jase Howell (Portsmouth) each added two RBIs in the first game, while sophomore third baseman Connor Powell (Midlothian) had two hits and freshman shortstop Mason Lester (Lawrence, KS) added an RBI in the second game, as Hampden-Sydney College split an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) baseball doubleheader at home with nationally-ranked No. 10 Bridgewater College on Sunday on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Senior right-hander and team captain Sterling Austin (Petersburg) started and gained the pitching win, and senior right-hander Jacob Williams (Chesapeake) earned a save in the 13-10 opening game win, while sophomore right-hander Brady Wilson (Virginia Beach) started and took the mound decision in the 3-1 loss in the second game. The host Tigers have completed the regular season with a record of 18-21 overall, including 10-10 in the ODAC for seventh place, while the visiting Eagles are now 30-10 overall, 12-8 in the ODAC to place fourth.

In game one, H-SC scored 13 runs on 11 hits with one error … scoring three runs each in the first, fourth and fifth innings, and four runs in the second. BC scored 10 runs on 12 hits with two errors … scoring two runs each in the first and fifth innings, and six runs in the sixth.

In the first, Powell (1-4, RBI) reached on a fielder's choice after senior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (2-4) had drawn a walk. Powell advanced to second when senior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) (2-2, RBI) was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Truesdale (3-4, 4 RBIs) with Wilson and Truesdale advancing an extra base on the throw from the outfield. Wilson crossed the plate courtesy of a sacrifice fly RBI to right field by Howell (2 RBIs), and Truesdale scored on a run-scoring single to right field by Arnold (2-4, 2 RBIs) for an early 3-2 advantage.

In the second, sophomore second baseman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) drew a walk to begin the at-bat, advanced to second on an infield single by Sanford and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Smith scored on an RBI single to left field by Powell and the bases were loaded after a wild pitch advanced Powell ahead of a walk to Jack Wilson. Sanford crossed the plate via a fielder's choice RBI off the bat of Truesdale, Powell scored on a line drive sacrifice fly RBI to left field by Howell and Truesdale crossed the plate via an RBI double to left center field by Arnold for a 7-2 lead.

In the fourth, Jack Wilson doubled down the left field line with one out, Truesdale was hit by a pitch and Arnold walked with two outs to load the bases again. Wilson and Truesdale each scored when Lester reached base on a fielding error at shortstop, and Arnold crossed the plate when senior left fielder and team captain Greer Farr (Southern Shores, NC) reached on a fielding error at second base for a 10-2 advantage.

In the fifth, Sanford led off with another infield single, advanced to second when Powell was hit by a pitch and scored when Jack Wilson followed with a run-scoring double to right center field. Powell and Wilson each crossed the plate via a two-run single to center field by Truesdale for a 13-4 margin toward the final 13-10 upset victory. It was the program's second consecutive win past a ranked opponent, following the 10-9 come-from-behind road win at (13)Christopher Newport University on April 23 in Newport News.

Austin (3-2) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 5.2 innings for the win, allowing nine hits and seven runs, all earned, with six strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore left-hander Noah Lewis (Crewe) pitched the next 2.1 innings of relief, yielding three hits and three runs, all earned, with three strikeouts and three walks. Williams (6) tossed the final 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning with one strikeout and no walks for his team-best sixth save of the season.

In game two, H-SC scored one run on five hits with one error … scoring the lone run in the ninth. BC scored three runs on 10 hits with no errors … scoring one run in the second inning and two runs in the fifth.

In the ninth, sophomore Sam Vick (Capron) (1-1) pinch-hit to begin the last at-bat and promptly doubled down the right field line ahead of a walk to Arnold (1-3), who was pinch-run for by sophomore Kennen Lewis (Dry Fork). Vick and Lewis advanced to third and second, respectively, on a ground ball out by Farr, and Vick scored on a sacrifice fly RBI to center field by Lester (RBI) that also moved Lewis to third. Smith drew another walk as the Tigers had the tying runs on base with two outs … but a fly ball out ended the contest with the 3-1 deficit.

Brady Wilson (7-4) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 5.0 innings for the tough-luck decision, allowing eight hits and three runs, all earned, with five strikeouts and no walks. Williams made his second appearance of the day and tossed the final 4.0 scoreless innings, yielding two hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

H-SC will be the number seven seed for the upcoming ODAC Tournament that begins with a Best-of-Three Quarterfinal Series at number two seed and nationally-ranked No. 7 Shenandoah University on May 2-3 in Winchester. The Tigers and Hornets will play game one on Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m., followed by game two on Sunday, May 3, at 1 p.m. and game three, if necessary, at 4 p.m. Complete conference tournament details with all seedings and pairings will be available on Monday.

It was Senior Day for the Tigers against BC with pregame recognition for Matthew Arnold, Sterling Austin, Greer Farr, Alex Fitz-Hugh (Chesterfield), Chase Sanford, Jacob Williams, Jack Wilson and Cooper York (Gastonia, NC). The special group of young men have led the program to 72 overall wins during their four years, including 42 wins in the ODAC, while earning three postseason ODAC Tournament appearances.