ASHLAND, Va. – Junior Michael Trentham (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) went 3 for 6 with a homer and two runs as seventh-ranked Randolph-Macon dropped a 5-4 ODAC decision in 12 innings to Hampden-Sydney Wednesday afternoon at Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.
The Yellow Jackets (14-2, 7-2) put runners on in each of the extra frames, but could not come up with the game-winning hit. R-MC loaded the bases with one away in the 10th, but a fielder's choice and flyout ended the threat. The Yellow Jackets put a runner on third with two away in the 11th, but a flyout stopped the rally. After the Tigers (6-13-1, 3-4) scored the go-ahead run with two away in the top of the 12th, R-MC again loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame. But a fielder's choice ended the contest.
After the Tigers scored one in the first and two in the second, R-MC answered in the bottom of the third. Senior Nate Meiners (Silver Spring, Md./St. John's Prep) doubled off the left field fence with one away and came home on a base hit by junior Mitch Keeler (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) to make it 3-1.
H-SC added one in the top of the fourth before R-MC responded in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Stuart Brown (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) had a leadoff single and moved to third on a double by Trentham. Brown came in on a passed ball and Trentham scored on a groundout by freshman Cole Migliorini (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) to make it a 4-3 contest.
Trentham went deep to lead off the sixth as the Yellow Jackets knotted the score at 4-4. It was his second long ball of the season.
Junior Travis Lodge (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) finished with four hits, while Keeler added a pair.
Senior Brandon Beiler (Paradise, Pa./Pequea Valley) tossed three scoreless innings in relief with one hit and one strikeout. Senior J.T. Williamson (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) was the tough-luck loser, scattering six hits over the final five innings with one run, no walks and six strikeouts.
Randolph-Macon returns to action on Thursday, March 26 at York at 3:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets will host No. 11 Shenandoah on Saturday, March 28 with an ODAC doubleheader at noon at Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.