Maroons Take A Pair From Tigers

The Basics
Game 1 
Score: Roanoke 13 | Hampden-Sydney 5
Records: Maroons 8-4 / 2-1 ODAC | Tigers 5-5 / 2-3 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va..

The Lead: After splitting with Lynchburg in their Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener, Roanoke welcomed long-time rival Hampden-Sydney to Salem Memorial Stadium for a double header on Saturday. 29 hits and 22 runs later, the Maroons had run their ODAC mark to 3-1 with a sweep of the Tigers.

How it Happened:

• Hampden-Sydney would get into the Roanoke bullpen early in the opener when they plated three runs in the first three innings.
• After Gavin Kandrick reached and advanced to second on an error, Mason Staz delivered an RBI single to make it 3-1.
• Will Merriken opened the fourth with a double followed by a Conner Butler infield single to set the table for a game tying double to right center by Cale Agee.
• The Maroons broke the game open with a six spot in the bottom of the fifth. Smith and Staz singled and a Carter Plunkett double would give RC the lead. With the bases loaded, Carson McCusker singled in Plunkett before Agee added a two-RBI single.
• Two more runs in the seventh and eighth would give Roanoke the 13-5 win.
• Merriken and Kandrick were each 3-5 with a McCusker and Butler going 2-5. Agee recorded five RBI.
• Will Turner pitched four innings in relief to pick up the win.

The Basics
Game 2
Score: Roanoke 9 | Hampden-Sydney 1
Records: Maroons 9-4 / 3-1 ODAC  | Tigers 5-6 / 2-4 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.

How it Happened:

• The Tigers would once again score first, taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the third.
• Trailing by one, Smith walked and stole second ahead of an infield single by Plunkett. Merriken delivered a go ahead double to give the Maroons the lead for good.
• Two innings later Smith double and Staz walked before Plunkett delivered a double to add to the lead. Butler added another RBI with a single to score Plunkett.
• The Maroons broke out the big sticks in the seventh. Plunket drove the ball out over the left field fence for his second HR of the season. Two batters later, PK Cocolis hit a towering shot out to left.
• RC would added two more runs in the eighth for the 9-1 ODAC win.
• Plunkett was 4-4 with three runs and a pair of RBI while Butler would go 3-4 with an RBI and run scored. Merriken drove in three and Smith scored twice. Brandon Hill got the start and went the first four innings, giving up three hits and a run. Austin Bansek came in for three innings of no-hit ball to pick up his second win of the season.

Up Next: Roanoke will host Averett for a Tuesday afternoon nine inning game on Tuesday at 2:30,