Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SALEM - The Roanoke College baseball team split a pair of contests with Bridgewater College on Saturday, but secured a spot in the 2015 ODAC Tournament. The Maroons now have a record of 16-13, 11-9 in the ODAC, while the Eagles are 23-11-1, 12-8 in ODAC play.

This is the second time in three years that the Maroons are advancing to the ODAC Baseball Tournament, and the third time in program history. Roanoke last went to the conference tournament in 2013, coach Matt McGuire's first year at the helm. During that season, McGuire's Maroons set the school record for ODAC wins with 10, but has since surpassed that number with their 11 wins in the 2015 season. This is the first ever winning season for the Maroons, boasting a 16-13 record for the season. Their 16 wins ties for the second most in program history, tying team totals in 2014, 2012 and 2004.

In the first game, the Eagles got out to a 5-0 lead in the first five innings of play. With the bases loaded in the first, an RBI single by Hunter Hensley brought in Bay Liskey for the first run. Derrik Walling hit into a ground out, which allowed Brandon Poole to score. The Eagles scored one in the third and three unearned runs in the fifth.

Roanoke got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. With both Danny Creel and Clark Crutchfield on base, Lucas Nowlin hit a three run shot over the left field wall, cutting the deficit to three, 6-3. However, Derrik Walling hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to push the Bridgewater lead back to four runs. The eagles scored one more run on a wild pitch in the ninth, as the Maroons fell 8-3 in game one.

Will Black and Devin Cassisty led the Maroons in hitting in the first game, finishing with two hits apiece. Craig Kiley, Will Decker, Danny Creel and Lucas Nowlin each finished with one hit. Nowlin led the team with three RBIs after his home run to left field. John Ruhlman (3-3) was tabbed with the loss, giving up three runs off six hits.

The Eagles were led in the first game by Cavin Clyde and Brendan Howell with three hits each, while Darren Yoder tallied two. Derrik Walling and Clyde had two RBIs as well. Ryan Leake picked up the win giving up no runs off two hits, striking out three. Justin Petock finished with the save, his third of the season.

In the second game, Bridgewater got on the board first again. Walling scored on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Maroons tied the game in the bottom of the inning, as Will Decker took a walk with the bases loaded, plating will black. In the top of the third, the Eagles scored once again on a wild pitch, taking a 2-1 advantage.

Roanoke's big inning came in the bottom of the fourth. As two of the other runs in the game had been scored, Danny Creel tied the game at 2-2 by scoring on a wild pitch. With two runners on, Black hit an RBI infield single, plating Anthony Teixeira. Brian Kluge reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Ross Strickland for a 4-2 lead. Will Black scored on another wild pitch for a three-run lead. With Kluge on the base path, Will Decker hit a two run bomb to right center field. Joe Larimer came up in the next at bat and hit a solo home run of his own. After four innings, Roanoke led 8-2.

The home runs didn't stop coming in the contest, as Cal Hodgert hit a solo shot over the wall in the bottom of the sixth. Bridgewater got in on the action on the top of the seventh, as Brandon Pool hit a solo home run. Roanoke's final run came in the bottom of the seventh as Drew Mikula hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Danny Creel. The Maroons picked up the victory in the second game, 10-3.
Anthony Teixeira led the Maroons in hitting, going 3-4 in the game, with one run scored. Danny Creel went 2-3 with two runs. Will Decker finished the game with two hits, three RBIs and one run scored. Will Black, Brian Kluge an d Ross Strickland all tallied one RBI apiece. Chad Hill was tabbed with the win, giving up just one hit and striking out one.

Bridgewater finished with seven hits, led by Brandon Poole with two, also tallying two runs and one RBI. Chad Lentz gave up eight runs on nine hits, striking out three in the loss.

The Maroons return to action on Thursday, April 23^rd as they are slated as the five seed in the ODAC Tournament. They will face off against the #2 seed, Virginia Wesleyan, a game that is slated for a 2:30 PM start.

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