HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (April 11, 2006)—Hampden-Sydney College sophomore catcher David Toney (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) knocked in the game-winning run with a pinch hit single in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift the Tigers to a 4-3 victory over Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival Lynchburg College Tuesday at Yank Bernier Field.  With the win, the Tigers improve to 17-13 overall and 9-5 in the ODAC, while the Hornets fall to 19-11 overall and 6-8 in league play. 

Toney was called out of the bullpen, where he was warming up relief pitchers, to make his pinch-hit appearance with two outs and runners on first and second.  He delivered with a line drive to centerfield that fell to the ground just inches shy of Lynchburg center fielder Steven Scott’s glove, bringing home designated hitter John Schoenholtz (Dhahran, Saudia Arabia/McCallie) from second base. 

Both teams scored one run in the first inning, while Lynchburg took a 3-1 advantage in the third when shortstop Ronnie LaBrie scored on a wild pitch and Steven Scott scored off a Tiger error.  Hampden-Sydney came back to the tie the game in its half of the fourth when junior catcher Andrew Wall (Elizabethtown, NC/East Bladen) drove in a run with his first sacrifice fly of the season, while junior second baseman Anthony Denale (Lusby, MD/Patuxent) delivered with a two-out double down the right field line to score Schoenholtz. 

Neither team could push across runs from the fifth through ninth innings as Lynchburg stranded 12 base runners and the Tigers eight.  Finally, Toney snapped the three-all tie with the RBI single, handing Tiger reliever Michael Hall (Leonardtown, MD/St. Mary-Ryken) his third win of the year after he worked one scoreless inning of relief.  Lynchburg reliever Jason Kelly took the loss after giving up one run on two hits over the final two and two-thirds of action. 

Both starters were solid as Hampden-Sydney freshman Matt Thornton (Richmond, VA/James River) worked six innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out three, while Lynchburg starter Jonathan Nichols lasted seven innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out three. 

The win capped off a pivotal series for the Tigers, winners of three straight since falling to Lynchburg, 14-3, last Wednesday, as Hampden-Sydney entered the game in a four-way tie for second place in the ODAC.  The Tigers return to action Saturday, April 15, when they host Washington and Lee University in a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm at Yank Bernier Field.  The Tigers will honor their seniors before the games as the contests mark their final home games of the 2006 season.