ASHLAND, Va. – The Randolph-Macon baseball team split their conference opener this afternoon at Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park posting an 11-5 victory in Game 1 followed by a 3-1 loss to finish the day.

Game 1

The Yellow Jackets (5-6, 1-1 ODAC) jumped on the board early in Game 1 as Michael Wallman (Forest, VA / Jefferson Forest) (1-for-5) laced a double to centerfield scoring Tim Benjamin (Glenelg, MD / Glenelg) (2-for-3) and Michael Kroll (VA Beach, VA / Cape Henry Collegiate) (2-for-5) for the 2-0 lead. Benjamin had advanced to third following a Kroll double to start the rally.

The Eagles (7-2, 1-1 ODAC) responded in the third with a pair of runs to tie the contest 2-2. R-MC answered with five runs in the fifth after a leadoff double by Travis Lodge (Chesterfield, VA / Matoaca) (3-for-5). Mitchell Keeler (Mechanicsville, VA / Atlee) (1-for-4) picked up the first RBI of the inning followed by an RBI from Michael Trentham (Midlothian, VA / James River) (2-for-5), Nate Meiners (Hammonton, NJ / Hammonton) (1-for-4), and two RBI from Kroll.

The Jackets would go on to post four more runs in the next two innings on five hits. BC would score three runs in the ninth before falling 11-5. Senior right-hander Matt Fischgrund (Gloucester, VA / Gloucester) (1) picked up the save recording seven strikeouts, seven hits, and zero walks in four innings while Daniel Byrd (Chesterfield, VA / Cosby) (1-1) took home his first win with one strikeout, two walks, and four hits.

Game 2

For the second time in the series, R-MC posted the first run of the game after two stolen bases from Keeler and Blake Saathoff (Catonsville, MD / Archbishop Spalding) (1-for-4) and a BC error at the plate. However, Bridgewater would go to outhit the Yellow Jackets 8-4 and record three runs in the fourth and fifth, posting a 3-1 win.

The Randolph-Macon baseball team returns to action Wednesday, March 5 as they host the visiting Tigers of Hampden-Sydney for a 2:30 pm conference game.