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It’s a moment baseball players dream of. Junior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford hit his first collegiate home run in the ninth inning and Hampden-Sydney won game one of a doubleheader Saturday 10-9 on the road at Washington and Lee University. The visiting Tigers also came out swinging in the nightcap but fell just short in a 6-5 loss. 

An offensive explosion in game one

In game one, Hampden-Sydney scored 10 runs on 12 hits with one error. They scored five runs in the fourth inning, one run in the fifth, three runs in the sixth and the winning run in the ninth. Washington & Lee scored nine runs on 15 hits with one error, from two runs in the second inning, one run each in the fifth and sixth, four runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth.

In the fourth, junior designated hitter Matthew Arnold singled to right field to begin the at-bat and advanced to third on a double to left field by sophomore left fielder Jake Moore. Arnold and Moore crossed the plate when sophomore third baseman Jase Howell reached on an infield single, advancing to second on a throwing error. Senior shortstop Jaxon Masterson and freshman catcher Noah Leonard each drew walks around another out, before Howell, Masterson and Leonard each scored on a clutch three-run double to center field by J. Wilson for a 5-2 advantage.

In the fifth, Moore doubled to right field with one out, advanced to third on an infield single by Sanford and scored on a sacrifice fly RBI to right field by Howell for a 6-2 advantage. In the sixth, Leonard doubled to center field with one out and scored when junior center fielder Jack Wilson followed with an RBI double to right center field, advancing to third on the throw. Senior first baseman and team captain Grayson Harris followed with a run-scoring single to center field that plated J. Wilson, and Harris crossed the plate when Arnold promptly followed with an RBI double to left center field for a 9-3 lead.

In the ninth, Sanford hit a clutch, two-out solo home run to left center field for what proved to be the game-winning hit toward the final 10-9 margin of victory. It was the first homer of his collegiate career.

Freshman left-hander Noah Lewis-last week’s ODAC Pitcher of the Week-started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 5.0 solid innings, scattering six hits and three runs, two earned, with three strikeouts and two walks. Freshman right-hander Brady Wilson tossed 1.0-plus innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, all earned, with two strikeouts and no walks. Junior right-hander and team captain Alex Fitz-Hugh pitched 1.1 innings, yielding two hits and one run, earned, with one strikeout and no walks. Austin (2-2) tossed the final 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings with three strikeouts and no walks for the pitching win.

Starting quick in game two

In game two, Hampden-Sydney scored five runs on 14 hits with two errors … scoring one run each in the second and third innings, two runs in the fifth and one run in the ninth. W&L scored six runs on 14 hits with one error … scoring three runs in the third inning, one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth.

In the second, Harris doubled down the right field line with one out and scored when Howell followed with an RBI single up the middle for an early 1-0 lead. In the third, Leonard singled to right field to begin the at-bat, advanced to second on a single to right center field by J. Wilson, moved on to third courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by Sanford and crossed the plate on a ground ball RBI off the bat of Arnold for a 2-0 advantage.

In the fifth, J. Wilson doubled to right center field with one out and scored ahead of Sanford who followed with his second home run of the day, and his career, a two-run shot over the fence in center field for a 4-3 lead.

In the ninth, J. Wilson reached on a throwing error as the lead-off batter and scored when Sanford was clutch once-again … following with an RBI triple to right center field. Unfortunately, Sanford was out at the plate on a fielder’s choice, before a fly-ball double-play ended the contest. Moore also collected two hits in the nightcap.

Senior right-hander Gavin Gregory started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, all earned, with one strikeout and two walks. Holihan (1-2) tossed 2.2 innings, yielding five hits and three runs, all earned, with two strikeouts and no walks for the pitching setback. Sophomore right-hander Logan Benton pitched the final 2.0 scoreless innings, scattering two hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

Hampden-Sydney looks ahead

With the split, the Tigers are 11-10, 5-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Hampden-Sydney returns home to welcome ODAC member Virginia Wesleyan University on Thursday, March 27, at 3 p.m. on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.