ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Sophomore second baseman Jase Howell (Portsmouth had three hits and three RBIs, and junior Greer Farr (Southern Shores, NC) had a three-run double, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 17-5 non-conference baseball road win at nationally-ranked No. 20 North Carolina Wesleyan University on Wednesday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Senior right-hander Gavin Gregory (Suffolk) started on the mound and pitched the first 5.2 innings for the pitching victory for the visiting Tigers (2-3) against the host Bishops (2-6).

H-SC scored 17 runs on 17 hits with two errors … scoring one run in the first inning, three runs in the third, one run in the sixth, nine runs in the seventh and three runs in the ninth. NCWU scored five runs on eight hits with four errors … scoring one run each in the first and second innings, and three runs in the ninth.

In the first, Howell (3-4, 3 RBIs) singled to left center with two outs, advanced to second on a single to right field by junior third baseman Matthew Arnold (Danville) (3-6, 2 RBIs), and scored when junior center fielder and team captain Jack Wilson (Petersburg) (3-5, 2 RBIs) followed with an RBI single to left field—the third consecutive two-out single for the early 1-0 advantage.

In the third, senior right fielder and team captain Christian Lancaster (Danville) (1-3) opened the at-bat with a single to right field, advanced to third on a single to right field by senior first baseman and team captain Grayson Harris (Moseley) (2-7), and scored on an RBI single to right field by Howell—the second time the Tigers were able to put together three consecutive singles. Harris then crossed the plate when Arnold followed with the fourth-straight hit, an RBI double to left center field by Arnold. Howell scored on an RBI ground ball off the bat of senior left fielder Christian Chambers (Midlothian) (1-3, 2 RBIs) for a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth, Lancaster was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored after stealing second on a play that included a couple of errors … and the visitors led 5-2.

In the seventh, Wilson tripled to right field with one out before Chambers was hit by a pitch and then stole second ahead of a walk to junior shortstop Hunter Powell (Ridgeway) … with Wilson scoring on the ball four wild pitch. Chambers scored when senior second baseman Jaxon Masterson (Raleigh, NC) (1-5, RBI) followed with an RBI double to right field, and he advanced to third and scored, as well, with Powell also scoring on another wild pitch. Sophomore catcher Noah Leonard (Troutville) drew another walk, Lancaster was hit by a pitch and Harris reached on a fielding error to load the bases, still with just one out. Leonard and Lancaster crossed the plate on a two-run single to center field by Howell, and Harris scored on an RBI single to left field by Arnold. Senior Jahiem Green (Stafford) (1-1) later scored as a pinch-runner courtesy of a sacrifice fly RBI in foul territory off the bat of Wilson, and Arnold crossed the plate via a run-scoring single to right field by Chambers for a 14-2 advantage.

In the ninth, sophomore designate hitter Jake Moore (Dry Fork) (1-1) singled with one out and Masterson drew a two-out walk, before freshman Jack Wells (Sutherland) was hit by a pitch while pinch-hitting to load the bases. Farr (1-1, 3 RBIs) promptly followed with a three-run double to center field that plated Moore, Masterson and Wells for a 17-2 lead.

Gregory (1-0) started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched the first 5.2 solid innings for the win, scattering four hits and two runs, earned, with three strikeouts and one walk. Junior right-handed and team captain Alex Fitz-Hugh (Chesterfield) followed with 2.1 scoreless innings, yielding one hit with three strikeouts and no walks. Junior right-hander and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville)  tossed two-thirds of an inning, allowing three hits and three runs, all earned, with two strikeouts and three walks. Senior right-hander Justin Reynolds (Virginia Beach) recorded the final out with a strikeout of the only batter he faced.

H-SC returns home to welcome the University of Mary Washington in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon, February 27, at 4 p.m. on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.