HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – Senior Andrew Kasiski/Chesapeake had four hits, while juniors Ryan Clawson/Moseley and Nick Grohowski/Chesterfield each had three hits, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 5-3 non-conference baseball decision to William Peace University in 17 innings on Saturday on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark - Wurdeman Stadium. The season-opening contest took four hours and 50 minutes to complete, as the two teams were tied at 3-3 from the bottom of the seventh inning until the top of the 17th inning. Freshman Colby Owens/Chesapeake took the pitching setback in relief for the host Tigers (0-1) against the visiting Pacers (4-0).

H-SC had three runs on 15 hits … scoring two runs in the second inning and one run in the seventh. The Tigers never led but battled back from early deficits of 2-0 in the first and 3-2 in the fifth, before the two teams played scoreless baseball for nine innings until the decisive 17th, which had been determined to be the final inning regardless, due to the impending darkness.

In the second, senior captain Matt Spagnolo/Glen Allen (1-7) and Clawson (3-7, RBI) each singled and were moved to third and second, respectively, via a sacrifice bunt from freshman Ryan Boyce/Suffolk (1-6). Grohowski (3-8, 2 RBIs) promptly followed with a one-out, two-run triple down the right field line to score both Spagnolo and Clawson.

In the seventh, Kasiski (4-7) reached on a one-out single and stole second base with two outs. Spagnolo was then hit by a pitch before Clawson provided a clutch two-out, RBI single through the left side to plate Kasiski.

WPU won it with a two-out, two-run triple to left center field in the top of the 17th inning.

Senior Chase Mayberry/Appomattox started and pitched the first 7.0 solid innings, scattering seven hits and yielding three runs, all earned, with six strikeouts and two walks. Senior Cameron Meyers/Benson, N.C. tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing no hits with two strikeouts and no walks.  Classmate and captain Bradford Webb/Charlotte Court House pitched 2.0 shutout innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Owen Tappy/Charlotte, N.C. pitched a scoreless inning, yielding no hits with one strikeout and two walks. Classmate Russell Bowles/Moseley tossed 2.0 shutout innings, scattering two hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore Kieran Conway/Chesapeake pitched a scoreless inning, yielding one hit with no strikeouts and no walks. Owens (0-1) tossed the final inning, allowing two hits and two runs, both earned, with one strikeout and two walks.

H-SC will complete the three-game series against WPU with a doubleheader on the road against the Pacers on Sunday, February 16, beginning at 2 p.m. at the USA Baseball National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina. The two games on Sunday will each be seven-inning contests.