HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Freshman Jacob Miller-Bopp (Barhamsville) hit his first collegiate home run, a grand slam in the first inning, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 6-3 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) home baseball victory past Virginia Wesleyan University on Wednesday afternoon on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Freshman Sterling Austin (Petersburg) gained his first collegiate pitching win with five scoreless innings for the host Tigers (14-12, 7-4), while senior Tymothy Hart (Powhatan) earned a mound save against the visiting Marlins (4-19-1, 3-7-1).

H-SC scored six runs on four hits with one error … scoring four runs in the first inning, one run in the second and one run in the fifth. WVU scored three runs on 11 hits with one error … scoring one run in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth.

In the first, sophomore Jaxon Masterson (Raleigh, NC) (1-4) singled to center field and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, moving to third when sophomore Christian Lancaster (Danville) (1-3) singled off the glove of the first baseman. Senior captain Ryan Boyce (Suffolk) then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs … and Miller-Bopp (1-3, 4 RBIs) jumped all over the first pitch he saw and sent a towering blast over the wall in left field for his first collegiate homer, a grand slam, nonetheless, for the early 4-0 advantage.

In the second, senior captain Jay Beavers (Alexandria) (1-3) doubled off the wall in left field, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Jack Wilson (Petersburg), and scored courtesy of a wild pitch to make it a 5-0 contest.

In the fifth, Wilson walked and stole second base with one out, before another walk, this time to Lancaster. Wilson then stole third, as well, and later crossed the plate on a failed pickoff throw to first base that allowed Lancaster to advance to second—providing a 6-0 lead for the Garnet & Grey.

The Marlins were able to avoid the shutout with three late runs scored in the conference contest.

Austin (1-2) started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched the first 5.0 scoreless innings for his first collegiate pitching victory, scattering three hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Sophomore Gavin Gregory (Suffolk) tossed 1.0 scoreless inning, yielding two hits with no strikeouts and no walks. Senior Justin Woodall (Mechanicsville) pitched 1.0 inning, allowing two hits and one run, earned, with two strikeouts and no walks. Senior Owen Tappy (Charlotte, NC) tossed 1.0 inning, yielding three hits and two runs, one earned, with two strikeouts and one walk. Hart (3) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his team-leading third save, allowing one hit with one strikeout and no walks.

H-SC remains at home for an ODAC doubleheader against Eastern Mennonite University on Saturday, April 8, beginning at 12 p.m. at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.