FARMVILLE, Va. -- Freshman second baseman Gavin Smith (Mechanicsville) had a season-high three hits with two RBIs, and senior shortstop Jaxon Masterson (Raleigh, NC) collected a season-high four hits, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 21-11 non-conference baseball decision at home to Christopher Newport University on Monday evening on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium. Freshman right-hander Brady Wilson (Virginia Beach) took the pitching setback in middle relief for the host Tigers (18-21) against the visiting Captains (20-17) in the eight-inning contest due to the run rule.

H-SC scored 11 runs on 15 hits with one error … scoring one run each in the first and second innings, two runs in the fourth, six runs in the fifth and one run in the seventh. CNU scored 21 runs on 19 hits with one error … scoring one run each in the first and third innings, three runs in the fifth, 10 runs in the sixth, four runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth.

In the first, senior right fielder and team captain Chase Sanford (Mechanicsville) (2-3, RBI) was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored when sophomore center fielder Jake Moore (Dry Fork) (2-5, 2 RBIs) followed with a run-scoring triple to the wall in right center field to tie it at 1-1.

In the second, Masterson (4-5) singled to center field with one out and advanced to second on a single to right center field by Smith (3-3, 2 RBIs), and a throwing error on the play allowed Masterson to score for an early 2-1 advantage.

In the fourth, sophomore first baseman Brandon Shelhorse (Fairfax) (2-4, RBI) walked with one out and advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Masterson. Both Shelhorse and Masterson crossed the plate on a two-out, two-run single to left field by Smith for a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth, Sanford reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a balk and scored on an RBI single to center field by Moore. Moore stole second and third base, and later crossed the plate on a run-scoring single to left field by Shelhorse with one out, and Shelhorse moved to second on a single through the left side by Masterson. Junior catcher Cooper York (Gastonia, NC) (1-5, RBI) then provided an RBI double down the left field line to plate Shelhorse, before a walk to Smith loaded the bases. Masterson scored on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of senior designated hitter Christian Lancaster (Danville) (1-4, RBI), and following walk to sophomore third baseman and right-handed pitcher Jase Howell (Portsmouth), York scored when Sanford was hit by a pitch with Lancaster later crossing the plate courtesy of a wild pitch—for a 10-5 lead after five innings.

In the seventh, Smith singled up the middle to begin the at-bat, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a ground ball out and scored on another wild pitch for a 19-11 deficit … as CNU had the big sixth inning toward the final margin for the run-rule decision.

Senior right-hander Justin Reynolds (Virginia Beach) started on the mound for the Garnet & Grey and pitched the first 4.0 innings, scattering three hits and two runs, both earned, with one strikeout and two walks. Sophomore right-hander Logan Benton (North Chesterfield) recorded one out, yielding two hits and three runs, all earned, with one strikeout and one walk. Junior right-hander Jacob Williams (Chesapeake) tossed two-thirds of an inning, allowing no runs on two hits with one strikeout and no walks. Wilson (1-4) recorded one out, yielding three hits and nine runs, eight earned, with one strikeout and four walks. Junior right-hander Ashton Armour (Great Falls) tossed two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit and one run, unearned, with no strikeouts and two walks. Howell pitched the final 2.0 innings, yielding eight hits and six runs, all earned, with one strikeout and one walk.

H-SC is the No. 7 seed for the 2025 ODAC Baseball Tournament, and will play a Best-of-Three Quarterfinal series at No. 2 seed and archrival (RV)Randolph-Macon College, beginning on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. in Ashland. Game two is scheduled for Sunday, May 4, at 12 p.m., and a third game, if necessary, is set for Sunday at approximately 3 p.m.