Late Rally Sinks Marlins on the Road

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Hampden-Sydney College scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Virginia Wesleyan College baseball team 9-8 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action Tuesday afternoon.

The Marlins jumped on the board first with three runs in the top of first inning. C.J. Lindsay drove in the initial runs as Justin Erby and Brandon Kussmaul crossed the plate on a single.

Matt Murray followed with a single that scored Taylor Erby for a 3-0 edge.

Hampden-Sydney responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of Jacob Fontana.

The Marlins made another charge to take the lead back in the top of the fifth with four runs.

Justin Erby and Deon Hammond walked before a Kussmaul single loaded the bases for Taylor Erby. He connected for a long double that cleared the bases for a 6-5 VWC lead. A Murray groundout scored Taylor Erby for the 7-5 edge.

The Marlins led 8-7 heading to the bottom of the ninth when the Tigers made the final push for the win.

Dustin Wiles led off the inning with a single before Lee Carneal was hit by a pitch. John Lloyd doubled home Wiles to tie the game at eight. Following an intentional walk, Fontana struck the crucial blow again as his single plated Carneal for the winning run.

Fontana drove in three runs for Hampden-Sydney (20-11/6-6) while Lloyd finished with three hits and two RBI.

Taylor Erby finished with three hits and three RBI as Kussmaul contributed a pair of hits.

Virginia Wesleyan (15-8/9-4) hosts No. 11 Salisbury University (15-7) Thursday at 3 p.m.