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It was a hit parade Thursday night for the Hampden-Sydney Tigers. Junior team captain Christian Lancaster had three hits and two RBIs, with fellow junior Grayson Harris adding three hits of his own and one RBI, as the Tigers beat William Peace University 12-2 Thursday at Ty Cobb Ballpark. 

Junior Justin Reynolds earned the pitching victory for the host Tigers (15-18) against the visiting Pacers (13-22).

Hampden-Sydney scored 12 runs on 18 hits with no errors … scoring three runs in the first inning, two runs in the third, one run in the fourth, two runs in the fifth, three runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth. WPU scored two runs on five hits with two errors … scoring one run each in the second and third innings.

Breaking down the game

In the first, Harris (3-6, RBI) and freshman Jake Moore (2-3, RBI) each singled to begin the at-bat, advanced to third base and second base, respectively, on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Jack Wilson (1-3), and scored on a two-run double to the wall in right center field by Lancaster (3-4, 2 RBIs). Lancaster moved to third on a single to right center field by sophomore Greer Farr (1-3) and crossed the plate via a wild pitch for the early 3-0 lead.

In the third, Lancaster singled to left field while leading-off, stole second base, advanced to third on a single to right field by senior Tillman Butler (1-3) and scored on a sacrifice fly RBI to center field by senior Lucas Burnette (Hurt) (2-3, RBI). Sophomore Jacob Miller-Bopp (1-2), who had walked during the at-bat, crossed the plate via another wild pitch for a 5-2 advantage.

In the fourth, Wilson singled to center field with one out and advanced to second base when Lancaster was hit by a pitch, scoring courtesy of a throwing error to make it 6-2.

In the fifth, Butler was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second base, advanced to third on another throwing error and scored on an infield single off the bat of Moore. Burnette, who had walked during the at-bat following Butler at the plate, crossed the plate on a passed ball for an 8-2 lead.

Tigers keep control

In the seventh, Burnette singled to left field as the lead-off batter, advanced to second base on a single up the middle by junior Jaxon Masterson (1-5), moved to third on a single through the right side by Harris and scored a sacrifice fly RBI to center field by senior Julian Franks-Pollock (1-1, RBI). Masterson crossed the plate on a run-scoring single to right field by junior Christian Chambers (1-2, RBI) and Harris scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-2.

In the eighth, Butler reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second base on a single to center field by Burnette, moved to third on another fielder’s choice off the bat of Masterson and scored when Harris reached on a hard-hit RBI single back to the pitcher to provide for the final 10-run margin.

Reynolds (2-2) started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched the first 5.0 solid innings for the win, scattering four hits and two runs, both earned, with five strikeouts and only one walk. Sophomore Kyle Woodall followed with 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning, with no strikeouts and one walk. Senior Ryan Portes tossed 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning, with two strikeouts and no walks. Freshman Ty Herndon followed with 1.0 scoreless inning, yielding one hit with three strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Logan Benton pitched the final 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning, with one strikeout and no walks.

What’s next for Hampden-Sydney?

The Tigers welcome Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) member Bridgewater College on Saturday, April 27, for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. here at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. It will be Senior Day on Saturday as the program will recognize and celebrate seven seniors between the two games that complete the regular season.