SALEM, Va. (4/7/09) - Drew Gurkin's leadoff homer in the top of the 11th inning broke an 8-8 tie and lifted visiting Guilford College to a 9-8 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win at Roanoke College Tuesday night. Michael Blocher (4-0) picked up the win with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief as the Quakers (17-12-1, 6-4 ODAC) swept the season series from Roanoke (8-16, 3-9 ODAC).

The lead swirled like the cold wind and occasional snow Tuesday night at Kiwanis Field. The Quakers took an 8-6 edge with three unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning, but Roanoke tied the game for the third and final time with two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. The Maroons got a one-out double from pinch-hitter Chris Boylan in the home 10th, but Blocher fanned Jordan McGraner for one of his five strikeouts and retired Graham Thacker on a grounder to third, ending the inning.

Gurkin drove the first pitch from Barrett Henderson (1-3) in the top of the 11th inning down left-field line to break the tie. The Quakers threatened later in the inning before stranding runners at the corners.

Roanoke's Alan Moore opened the bottom of the 11th with a single up the middle. Former Guilford student Jay Laramore flew out to left before Noah Davidson worked a one-out walk to put runners on first and second. In his longest outing of the season, Blocher retired Sean Mathiesen on a fly ball to center and ended the game on a Chris Zachodski pop up to Gurkin at first base.

Senior Josh Sumler had a career-high five hits and scored three times for Guilford. Kyle Wooden went three-for-six and Joe John and Alex Starbuck both had two hits and two RBI. Sammy Stuart threw a season-high seven innings before giving way to Trey Daniel in the eighth. Daniel lasted three batters before Blocher entered the game.

Thacker's three hits and three RBI paced Roanoke's offense. Moore also had three hits and added two RBI. Henderson scattered five hits and one earned run in four innings.

The Quakers visit league-leading Lynchburg College Thursday (4/9) at 3:00 p.m. in a game rescheduled from Feb. 28 and Mar. 25.