Hampden-Sydney Baseball

BASEBALL TIGERS SPLIT CONFERENCE PAIR WITH EASTERN MENNONITE

HARRISONBURG, VA (April 12, 2008)—The Hampden-Sydney baseball team earned a split with Eastern Mennonite University in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader in Harrisonburg, VA on Saturday afternoon. Senior Daniel Hadra (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) earned the win in game one as the Tigers claimed an 8-1 victory over the Royals. In the second game, the Tigers led Eastern Mennonite, 6-1, heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Royals scored four runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to go along with six Tiger errors to help secure the 8-7 come-from-behind win. With the split, Hampden-Sydney moves to 16-21 on the season and 7-8 in the ODAC, while Eastern Mennonite is now 9-27 overall and 5-11 in the league.

In first game, the Tigers took a 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning as freshman Zach Harrelson (Danville, VA/George Washington) scored on a two-out single by senior Daniel Prieto (Wellington, FL/Cardinal Newman). Still holding the one run advantage, Hampden-Sydney tallied four runs in the top of the sixth inning to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Tigers added three runs to take an 8-0 lead. The Royals would manage to score one run in the bottom portion of the seventh, but it would not be nearly enough as the Tigers claimed the 8-1 win.

Tiger starter Daniel Hadra earned the win for Hampden-Sydney. The senior worked all seven innings, allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out five batters. Jesse Baker took the loss for the Royals, giving up five runs on ten hits in six innings work.

In the second game, Hampden-Sydney took an early lead as senior David Toney (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) hit a solo shot, his eighth of the season, to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The Tigers increased their lead to six runs, 6-0, as Hampden-Sydney managed four runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Eastern Mennonite answered with a single run in their portion of the fourth to cut the lead to five runs, 6-1. In the bottom of the sixth inning, EMU's Bryan Wise hit a grand slam to cut the Tiger advantage to one run, 6-5. The Royals would take a two run lead, 8-6, in the bottom of the seventh as Chris Handler hit a three-run homer. The Tigers would manage one run in the top of the eighth inning, but it would not be enough as the Royals took the 8-7 victory.

Sophomore starter Robbie Bailey (Richmond, VA/Hermitage) took the loss for the Tigers as he gave up seven runs on six hits in six and two-thirds innings of action. Eastern Mennonite's Ethan Russell earned the win for the Royals, giving up one run on four hits in three innings of work. Chris Harpine earned the save for the Royals, shutting out the Tigers in the top of the ninth inning.

On the afternoon, Hampden-Sydney was led at the plate by Daniel Prieto as the senior went 5-for-7 with four RBI and two runs scored. Zach Harrelson went 4-for-9 for the Tigers with three RBI and two runs scored, while Nick Price (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) went 4-for-9 with two RBI and one run scored. Also producing for the Tigers at the plate was junior Luke Swiney (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) as he went 3-for-8 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Hampden-Sydney will return to action on Wednesday, April 16, as the Tigers will welcome Washington and Lee University to Yank Bernier Field for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference match-up. First pitch for Wednesday's contest is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-