Tigers Earn Fifth-Straight Win

Published 11:18 am Tuesday, February 25, 2014

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY — Hampden-Sydney baseball swept the competition in the Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament, capping off the three day event with a 9-6 win over Wesley. The Tigers again hit the ball well, with 14 hits on the day; more impressively all nine batters recorded at least one hit. With the win, the Tigers improve to 5-2 on the season. Wesley falls to 1-2.

In the first, junior Spencer Wiles (Belmont, NC/South Point) continued his tear from yesterday, scoring the first run of the game on a John Lloyd (Glen Allen/Deep Run) RBI-single to take the early 1-0 lead. The Wolverines were knocking on the door in the top of the second with the leadoff man reaching third with no outs, but Hunter Lewis (Newport News/Menchville) struck out three straight to strand the runner and preserve the lead.

Wesley did cross the plate, however, in the fourth with Trevor Mears leading off with a single, stealing second, and later being batted in by Matt Domian. Eric Speidel later batted in Adam Darling to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead.

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The Tigers, who have enjoyed big innings as of late, put together a four run rally in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the inning with five straight hits, including doubles from Lee Carneal (Charlottesville/Albemarle) and Garrett Birnbaum (Moseley/Cosby). The duo drove in three runs, while center fielder Reggie Johnson (Dunnsville/Essex) drove in a run and scored one. Carneal also scored, along with Lloyd and Jeff Gray (Newport News/Menchville).

After Wesley added one run in the top of the sixth, the Tigers tacked on three more; Wiles, Christian Hamlett (Midlothian/Cosby), and Lloyd all batting in runs.

Wesley scored one in the top of the seventh, and had runners on second and third with no outs in the eighth, but Spencer Garrett (Mableton, GA/Whitefield, Academy) pitched out of it, retiring three straight.

Wiles and the Tigers tacked on one more in the eighth as he was batted in by Llyod to go up 9-4.

Wesley added two more runs in the top of the ninth, but the Tigers held on for their fifth victory.

Lewis picked up the win after pitching seven innings and striking out nine batters. He allowed four runs – three earned – on eight hits and a walk. Garrett went one inning, allowing two hits. Matt Hinson (Kinston, NC/Arendell Parrott Academy) finished off the game allowing two runs on two hits.

The Tigers recorded 14 hits on the day with Lloyd going a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with three RBI and a run. Wiles and Johnson each added two hits, and the other seven Tigers all had one.