Posted: Mar 15, 2015
The Maroons played a thriller of a game in the second contest, including a stellar defensive performance in the field to save late runs. Roanoke started the scoring early with a run by Will Black, who was knocked in by a Will Decker RBI double to left field. The Tigers responded with three runs in the top of the second inning, including a two RBI triple by Spencer Wiles, plating Haynie and Rogers to take a 3-1 lead. The Maroons bounced back as, with the bases loaded, Sean Guida hit a three RBI triple to center field to score Black, Danny Creel and Cal Hodgert and reclaim a 4-3 advantage. The next batter, Decker, hit an RBI single to short, allowing Guida to score for a two run lead.
The runs kept coming for both teams, as the Tigers scored four runs as a result of a pair of two, two-RBI doubles to the outfield by John Lloyd and Dustin Wiles. After the top of the third, Hampden Sydney led the Maroons 7-5. But, in the bottom of the Inning, Roanoke came on strong. Cal Hodgert hit a single up the middle of the infield to bring around Lucas Nowlin to get the Maroons within one, 7-6. Ross Strickland hit a two RBI double down the left field line, bringing home Hodgert and Craig Kiley to take a 8-7 lead over the Tigers. Roanoke added one more run after Black hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field, allowing Creel to score from third on the play. After just three innings, Roanoke held a 9-7 advantage.
The two teams went scoreless for the next two-and-a-half innings until Roanoke put another player across the plate. Lucas Nowlin hit a single through the right side with one out, bringing home Decker, who initially reached base on a double to the outfield. After six innings, The Maroons were ahead 10-7. In the top of the seventh, with runners on second and third, Will Black picked off Lloyd at third for the second out of the inning. The next batter, Wiles, hit a double down the line, which only scored one run, thanks to the heads up play by Black. In the top of the eighth, Sean Guida fired a laser of a throw from right field all the way to third base to throw out a potential scoring runner. Two batters later, Carneal hit a single to left field, scoring two runs, which could have been three without Guida's throw.
Hampden-Sydney's two runs in the eighth tied the game at 10-10. In the bottom of the eighth, With two outs, and Dan Brodeur on first as a pinch runner, Lucas Nowlin hit an RBI double to left field, bringing Brodeur all the way home from first to score the eventual winning run of the game.
Roanoke finished the contest with 16 hits to the Tigers' 15, led by Will Decker, Lucas Nowlin and Danny Creel with three hits each. Sean Guida led the team in RBIs with three, while Decker, Nowlin and Ross Strickland brought home two runners each. Will Black, Cal Hodgert and Creel each crossed the plate twice over the course of the game. Michael Mares picked up the win, giving up three runs off four hits in two innings pitched, also striking out one batter. Harrison Richards earned the save in the final inning of work.
The Tigers were led by Dustin Wiles with three hits in five at bats. He notched three RBIs, while Spencer Wiles, Lee Carneal and John Lloyd had two, apiece. Jeff Gray and Jack Elliott scored twice each to lead the team in the category. Billy Nixon was tabbed with the loss, giving up one run off two hits in one inning of work.
Hampden-Sydney scored four runs in the first game, with the first coming on misdirection with a rundown between second and third, which spilled over between first and second as well. The Tigers scored three more runs in the top of the fifth, with Jeff Gray starting with an RBI double to center field, scoring Christian Hamlett. Lee Carneal then reached on an error that allowed Gray to score on the play. John Lloyd earned the final RBI after he hit a single to center field, plating Carneal on an unearned run.
Roanoke finished with four hits, one each coming from Will Black, Lucas Nowlin, Craig Kiley and Collier Donald. Cameron Holshouser was slated with the loss, giving up four runs on five hits. He struck out two batters. Austin Gregory came in for relief and gave up just two hits while striking out four.
Jeff Gray and John Lloyd led the tigers in the first game, tallying two hits apiece. Gray also topped the team in RBIs with two. Reggie Johnson pitched the complete game shutout, striking out eight Maroon batters.
Roanoke returns to action on Tuesday, March 15th as they take on Lynchburg College at Lewis-Gale field. That contest is scheduled for a 3:00 PM start.
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