BREEDLOVE, TIGERS UPSET #21 NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN

Box Score

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (March 11, 2008)—Hampden-Sydney rode a complete game, four-hit shutout gem by sophomore pitcher Bryan Breedlove (Suffolk, VA/Nanesmond Suffolk) en route to a 3-0 victory over No. 21 North Carolina Wesleyan College on Tuesday afternoon in Rocky Mount, NC. Breedlove struck out five and walked just one, earning the win after the Tigers exploded for the only three runs of the game in their half of the ninth inning. Hampden-Sydney improves to 7-12 overall while the Battling Bishops drop to 14-5-1.

For the first five innings, both pitchers dominated the action. Breedlove's North Carolina Wesleyan counterpart Doug Roenker allowed just four hits, striking out five and walking four, before being lifted in the sixth inning for John Lucas.

With Breedlove rolling on the mound for Hampden-Sydney, Lucas held the Tigers' offense at bay until the Tigers' ninth inning. In the top of the ninth, junior Evan Rogers (Chester, VA/L.C. Bird) led off with a single where he was replaced with pinch runner Luke Swiney (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin). Swiney advanced to third with the help of a sacrifice bunt and a Daniel Venezuela (Suffolk, VA/Alliance Christian) single, but Lucas bore down and earned a strike out for the second out of the inning.

Sophomore Nick Price (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) followed with hard grounder to Lucas, who knocked the ball down, but was unable to deliver the throw to first in time, allowing Swiney to score the eventual game-winning run. The Tigers notched two more runs in the inning, courtesy of a Ben Brawley (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) single and Price scoring on a throwing error following his theft of third base.

Breedlove sealed the win with a solid ninth inning of work, handing the Tigers a thrilling road triumph.

Price led the Hampden-Sydney offense, going 2-for-5 with one RBI. Sophomore Alan Appling (Houston, TX/Houston Christian) turned in a 2-for-2 performance, drawing one walk. The Tigers managed ten hits on the afternoon.

Hampden-Sydney returns to action Wednesday, March 12 when it travels to Fayetteville, NC to take on Methodist College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-