Hampden-Sydney Baseball

BASEBALL TIGERS SPLIT A PAIR WITH SETON HILL

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (February 26, 2005)—Hampden-Sydney’s baseball team split an afternoon doubleheader with Seton Hill University Saturday as the Griffins downed the Tigers, 7-6, in the first game before Hampden-Sydney rallied for a 9-8 win in the second. The Tigers are now 5-2 on the year, while Seton Hill is 1-1.

Seton Hill scored four runs in the first inning of the first contest and added single runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings en route to a 7-6 victory over Hampden-Sydney. Eric Nese, Steve Long and Cory Harness each knocked in runs in the first inning for the Griffins, while Long drove in Eric Nese for the game-winning run in the seventh inning.

Trailing 5-0 in the contest, the Tigers battled back with a four-run third inning in which Jay Lilley (Chesapeake, VA/Western Branch) and Kevin Hill (Virginia Beach, VA/First Colonial) each had RBI hits, while Mike Clark (Kinsale, VA/Washington and Lee) added a two-run double. Hampden-Sydney eventually tied the game at six with two runs in the fifth inning as Tommy Burk (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) and Jason Bour (Centerville, VA/Westfield) each had RBI singles, but the game slipped away in the seventh on Steve Long’s RBI single.

Tiger freshman Daniel Hadra (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) was the hard luck loser after allowing one run on three hits over the final two innings of action. Hadra relieved Tiger starter Jayson Hanky (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) who allowed four earned runs on nine hits over five innings of work. Seton Hill reliever Tom Cesario earned the victory on the mound after allowing no runs and three hits over the final three innings for the Griffins.

In the second game, Hampden-Sydney again battled back after falling behind 5-1, as the team scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the contest before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Seton Hill used a five-run third inning to build its lead as the Griffins pounded out six hits in the inning and took advantage of two Tiger errors, while Eric Nese, Steve Gumpf and Jeff Pingor each had RBI hits.

The Tigers cut into the Griffin lead with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third thanks to the first home of freshman designated hitter Jason Bour’s (Centerville, VA/Westfield) career as he blasted a 345-foot three-run shot over the left center field fence. The blast came in the midst of a standout game for Bour at the plate as he finished the day 4-for-4 with four RBI.

The Griffins added a pair of runs in the fourth and another in the sixth and held an 8-5 lead before Hampden-Sydney again rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth as Todd Harrell (Chesapeake, VA/Nansemond-Suffolk) ripped a two-run double, while Chris Padgett (Williamsburg, VA/Jamestown) added a run-scoring single to tie the contest.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers loaded the bases before sophomore right fielder John Apperson (Lynchburg, VA/Heritage) was hit by a pitch to force in the game-winning run.

Tiger junior pitcher Jeff Martin (Richmond, VA/Meadowbrook) earned the win with an inning and one-third of relief in which he allowed no runs and one hit. Meanwhile, Seton Hill reliever Chad Fitzgerald took the loss after giving up two hits and the game-winning run in the seventh.

Hampden-Sydney returns to action Sunday, February 27, as the Tigers host SUNY Old Westbury in a doubleheader starting at 12 pm at Yank Bernier Field.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-