HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Virginia -- Ferrum College's baseball team opened Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) today play on the road, beating Hampden-Sydney College 12-1 this afternoon at Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.

RECORDS
Ferrum (6-4, 1-0 ODAC)
Hampden-Sydney (3-7, 0-1 ODAC)

THE BASICS
The game was shortened to just seven innings due to a new league run rule. The win is Ferrum's fourth straight, including a three-game series sweep last weekend in Tennessee. Carlos Castillo spotted the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a solo home run over the left field fence. The Panthers exploded for 11 runs in the fifth inning to break the game open.

Shawn Baxter's RBI double to left-center got two runs in, then JJ Tyree and Tyler Mason had back-to back RBI singles to push two runs in each, followed by Kyle Markowitz's RBI single to right-center for another run. Seth Shannon next singled to left to drive in two more runs. The Panthers batted around, with Baxter blasting a triple to right center, then Tyree doubled to left to push the Panthers' final run across the plate.

Matthew Arnold broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth inning for Hampden-Sydney, driving an RBI single into left field and allowing Noah Leaonard to score the Tigers' lone run.

Starter Jai Penn (1-0) earned the win, pitching five complete innings and allowing three hits, one earned run and a walk, while striking out six HSC batters. Baxter closed the game 3-5 at the plate with a double, a triple, two runs and three RBI. Tyree went 3-3 with a double, a run and three RBI.

UP NEXT
Coach Eric Owens' team will be back in action Thursday, March 6, at home against Willson College. The non-conference doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start at Panther Field. The Panthers will then travel Saturday, March 8, to Eastern Mennonite University for an ODAC doubleheader in Harrisonburg, Virginia.