Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 (Click Here for Dedication Program)
The Yellow Jackets rallied for 14 runs on 17 hits to take game two of their ODAC doubleheader against Guilford 14-4 Saturday in Ashland as Randolph-Macon dedicated Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.
On May 14, 1995, the renovated baseball field was dedicated and named to honor long-time baseball coach and Athletic Director Hugh F. Stephens '41 who died in 1993. The former location of Stephens Field had been the home of Randolph-Macon baseball dating back to teams in the early 1900s. Through the vision of President Robert Lindgren, the campus master plan process was concluded in 2008 and a stand-alone new location for Hugh Stephens Field was designed. In August of 2010, through the generosity of Carol Estes-Williams and Clarence Williams and many fans and former baseball players, ground was broken and construction began on the new Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.
The new home for Randolph-Macon baseball boasts an outdoor batting cage with room for six players to hit at once; both home and away bullpens allowing for six pitchers to warm-up at the same time; a state-of-the-art suspension backstop allowing fans to have an unobstructed view of the field of play; a large fan plaza along the first baseline; a sixteen foot outfield wall; a press box; brick walkways and permanent stands.
The baseball facility is part of a larger campus master plan for Randolph-Macon that includes a new tennis facility, which was completed in October, Andrews Hall, a new freshman residence facility scheduled to open in August 2011, and plans for a new football/lacrosse field.
Field Dimensions:
320 feet down the left field line
400 feet to center field
330 feet down the right field line
Randolph-Macon (15-16 / 9-6 ODAC) was led in the late game by Brian Jordan who finished 4-for-5 with a triple and three RBI. Jordan Walton was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish, knocking a double and one RBI. Cory Jackson, Jake Fletcher and Peter Culver had two hits each.
Jamie Hendrick was saddled with the game one loss after allowing two earned over six innings. James Bierlein struck out three and did not give up a hit in three innings of relief. Michael Helbig improved to 6-2 on the season after tossing seven innings in game two. The righty allowed four earned and struck out four. Kyle Hick and Dale Langford combined for two scoreless innings of relief.
Ben Esser belted a two run homerun in game one to lead the Quaker attack. Kyle Wooden and Jay Cox added to the offense with two hits apiece.
Will James went the distance in game one, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four. Zach Daw is stuck with the loss after giving up three earned in two and third innings.
The Yellow Jackets went up 1-0 in the second inning when Jackson singled up the middle to score Mitro.
Guilford answered back in the fourth when Esser belted a two run shot down the left field line.
GC pushed their lead to 4-1 in the fifth after Bryan Bialecki doubled home a run and Wooden scored on a groundout.
Randolph-Macon's Jay Lichter drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and then scored on a double from Jackson to cut the Guilford advantage to 4-2 but the Quakers held off the rally, taking game one 4-2.
Guilford look poised to take game two after pushing across three runs in the top of the first but Randolph-Macon put up a three spot of their own in the bottom half. Jordan scored on a Quakers' error to start the inning before a sacrifice fly from Walton and a Mitro RBI groundout tied the score at 3-3.
Fletcher tripled with one out in the second and then scored on a Bierlein groundout to give R-MC a 4-3 edge.
The Yellow Jackets broke the game open in the bottom of the third scoring four runs on five hits and a Quakers' error. Jackson highlighted the inning with a two run double and RBI singles from Lichter and Jordan pushed the lead to 8-3.
Culver singled home Bierlein in the seventh and Randolph-Macon added four more in the eighth to make the final 14-4.
Randolph-Macon Baseball returns to action Tuesday, April 12th when they travel to Virginia Wesleyan for a 3:00 ODAC contest.
