LYNCHBURG, Va. --- For the first time in school history, the Roanoke College baseball team won a game in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament.  The Maroons defeated Eastern Mennonite 5-1 in Friday afternoon's contest.  The Maroons have a record of 17-14, while the Royals close their season with a record of 16-18.
 
This is the sixth game the Maroons have ever played in the ODAC Tournament, having lost the previous five games.  With this win, Roanoke builds its record to 17-14, which bolsters the Maroons winning season, another first for the program.  The third time was the charm for the Maroons, as the Maroons defeated Eastern Mennonite for the first time this season, after losing both games of the regular season double-header in two tight contests.

Cal Hodgert, a recent All ODAC Second Team selection, led the Maroons in hitting with a 3-4 day.  Brian Kluge, who was named Third Team All-ODAC, went 2-3 for the day with two runs scored and one RBI.  All-ODAC First Team honoree, Will Black, finished 1-3 with two RBIs and one run scored.  Also scoring runs were Danny Creel and Dan Brodeur.  Cameron Holshouser pitched a complete game, giving up just one run off of seven hits, striking out nine batters, his highest strikeout total this season.
 
It took two innings for the Maroons to feel out the EMU pitching before scoring three runs in the bottom of the third.  Danny Creel led off with a single through the left side, then proceeded to steal second base.  Will Black, two batters later, hit an RBI double to center field, bringing around Creel to score.  Brian Kluge came up next with an RBI double of his own, firing down the left field line to score Black. After a ground out that moved Kluge to third, Clark Crutchfield hit an RBI single to left to score Kluge.  After three, Roanoke led 3-0.
                                                                    
In the bottom of the seventh, the Maroons piled on two more runs.  With one out, Dan Brodeur hit a triple to center field.  Will Black, the conference leader in sacrifice fly balls, hit a sac fly to right field, picking up the RBI and scoring Brodeur.  Kluge came up next with a double to the outfield, followed by Will Decker with an RBI single and Roanoke's fifth run of the game from Kluge.
 
EMU's lone run came in the top of the eighth.  Three consecutive singles by the Royals loaded the bases.  Kyle Sallada grounded out to first base, which allowed Justin Rodriguez to score.  The Maroons faced five batters in the top of the ninth, with runners on second on third, but notched the final out and picked up the 5-1 win in their second game of the ODAC Championships.
 
The Royals finished the game with seven hits.  They were led by Ryan Hedrick and Kyle Salladay, who both went 2-4- on the day.  Justin Rodrigruez scored the lone run with Salladay getting the RBI.  The Royals' Kyle Armstrong was tabbed with the loss, giving up three runs off six hits, while striking out two.

--- This release is courtesy of the Roanoke College sports information department. ---