Arlington, Va. – The Marymount baseball team used timely hitting and a three-run fifth to scurry past Hampden-Sydney (2-2) on Wednesday night, downing the visiting Tigers, 5-3.  The Saints improve to 1-2 on the season with the win.

The Tiger struck first in the second inning as Jeff Gray led off with a sharp single up the middle.  Gray stole second on the next pitch, and advanced to third on a one-out single from teammate Hayden Basse.  Gray would cross the dish on a groundout to shortstop just moments later, giving Hampden-Sydney the early 1-0 advantage.

The visitors added a pair in the fourth, with Jeff Gray providing the ignition once again.  Gray led off the frame with a lazy liner to centerfield, good for his second base-knock of the night.  A double from John Lloyd split the right center gap, bringing Gray all the way from first for the Tigers' second run.  After a pair of groundouts saw Lloyd still stranded on third, a two-single up the middle from Reggie Johnson made the score 3-0 in Hampden-Sydney's favor.

The Saints plated their respond in the bottom half of the frame, though in a quite unconventional manner.  Karlis Graubics drew a one-out walk, stole second, and then came home on a fielding error by the Tigers' shortstop.  Without recording a hit, Marymount cut the deficit to two, 3-1.

It was an inning later – the bottom of the fifth – that saw the Saints come alive at the plate.  Marymount welcomed Hampden-Sydney reliever Aaron Kurz with three hits and, consequently, three runs. 

Jack Breheny was hit by pitch to led off the frame, and advanced to second after luring the Tigers' catcher into an errant throw well-beyond second base.  Carlos King added to the chaos with a bunt single down the third baseline, advancing Breheny up to third on the play.  King was erased after Lorenzo Calderon hit into a fielder's choice, but Calderon took his place on the bases and deftly swipe second to give the Saints a pair in scoring position.  With the table set, Stephen Berczek stepped in and launched a ball deep down the right field line – a ball that would rattle around in the corner until Berczek coasted easily into third for his first triple of the season. Ryan Blake broke the 3-3 tie with his one-out single up the middle – putting the Saints ahead, 4-3, heading into the sixth inning.

The only other offensive came from Marymount in the eighth, when the Saints added an insurance run on a pair of hits from rookies Kaden Darrow and Brandon Padgett.  Darrow punched a one-out single through the left side, stole second, and then finally advanced to third on a passed ball.  With two outs, Padgett brought his classmate home with a long single to right center.

Berczek paced the Saints with his 1-for-3 performance at the dish – registering a triple, a run scored, and two RBIs in the twilight tilt.  Padgett posted a perfect 2-for-2 day at the dish.

Jake Brown (1-0) takes the decision for the Saints after scattering just three hits across four innings of work.

Marymount returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to Hampden-Syndey for a rematch.  First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.