ASHLAND, Va. -- Senior captain Ryan Boyce (Suffolk) had two hits, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 2-0 decision on the road at archrival and nationally-ranked No. 14 Randolph-Macon College in the opening game of the best-of-three Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon in Ashland. Senior Owen Tappy (Charlotte, NC) took the tough-luck pitching setback for the visiting #5 seed Tigers (20-18) against the host #4 seed Yellow Jackets (30-11). It was a classic old-fashioned pitcher's duel between the two rival programs.

H-SC had four hits with one error. R-MC scored two runs on six hits with one error … scoring one run in the third inning and one run in the sixth.

In the first, sophomore Grayson Harris (Moseley) (1-4) lined out to first base and classmate Jaxon Masterson (Raleigh, NC) (1-4) was called out on strikes, before Boyce (2-4) reached base on a bad-hop single past the third baseman. Sophomore Christian Chambers (Midlothian) then lined out to right field.

In the second, freshman Jacob Miller-Bopp (Barhamsville) was called out on strikes, sophomore Christian Lancaster (Danville) flied out to right center field and senior Ethan Currin (Toano) struck out swinging.

In the third, senior captain Jay Beavers (Alexandria) struck out swinging and junior Trent Jones (Virginia Beach) lined out to a diving second baseman, before Harris reached on a two-out infield single gloved by the shortstop near second base. Harris then advanced to second base when Masterson had a bloop single to left center field, but Boyce was retired on a fly ball to right center field.

R-MC took a 1-0 advantage with a run in the third, getting an RBI single from Matt Myers (2-4, RBI) with one out to score Hunter Cole (1-4), who had doubled down the right field line.

In the fourth, Chambers fouled out to the third baseman, Miller-Bopp grounded out to second base and Lancaster popped up to the shortstop behind second base.

In the fifth, Currin struck out swinging, Beavers lined out to center field and Jones grounded out to second base.

In the sixth, Harris flied out to center field, Masterson struck out swinging and Boyce struck out swinging, as well.

The Yellow Jackets increased their lead to 2-0 with run in the sixth, getting a double off the wall in left field from Ethan Iannuzzi (1-3) and he later crossed the plate on a one-out, RBI bunt single pushed to the right side by Carter Johnson (1-3, RBI).

In the seventh, Chambers was called out on strikes, Miller-Bopp flied out to left field and Lancaster flied out to right field.

In the eighth, freshman Greer Farr (Southern Shores, NC) was called out on strikes while pinch-hitting, Beavers grounded out to the pitcher on a bunt attempt and Jones struck out swinging.

In the ninth, Harris reached on a fielding error at second base, before Masterson struck out swinging. Boyce then doubled to the wall in left center field, moving Harris to third base with one out—Boyce representing the tying run. Unfortunately, Chambers struck out swinging and Miller-Bopp was called out on strikes to end the game.

Tappy (6-2) started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched the distance—8.0 solid innings, scattering six hits and two runs, both earned, with seven strikeouts and no walks. Tappy sat down the Yellow Jackets in order in the second, fifth—aided by a ground ball double play after a throwing error, seventh and eighth innings.

Hayden Snelsire (7-1) pitched the complete-game shutout for R-MC, scattering four hits with 13 strikeouts and no walks over 9.0 innings.

H-SC and R-MC will play game two of the post-season series on Sunday, May 7, at 12 p.m. in Ashland. The Tigers need a win to force the "if necessary" game three that would follow at approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday.