Marlins Down Host Piedmont 6-4 in Day Two of Tourney

DEMOREST, Ga. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College baseball team scored three runs in the first and never surrendered the lead en route to a 6-4 victory over Piedmont College in the second day of the Piedmont College Early Spring Classic.

Deon Hammond, fresh off a record three steals, led off on Saturday. He singled in his first at bat and stole second. A single by Justin Erby put runners on the corners where the Marlin speed and athleticism came into play again. Erby and Hammond succeeded in the double steal for the first run of the game. Taylor Erby doubled following the steal, chasing home his twin for a 2-0 lead. A Randy Neiszsingle and an error scored Taylor Erby for the 3-0 lead.

Piedmont scored one run in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game. The lead did not last long as the Marlins scored two more in the top of the fifth on three singles, including an RBI knock from Nik Milvo, to go along with a walk sandwiched in the middle.

Head coach Chris Francis turned to sophomore Nick Bay in the bottom of the fifth following a 91-pitch effort from Sean Grieser. Bay (1-0) allowed just one run over four innings of work to pick up the victory. He gave up one earned run and surrendered just three hits in his season debut.

Riley Koonce worked a perfect ninth for his first save of the year.

The Marlins stole six bases in the game, led by two each from Hammond and Milvo. Hammond now has five steals in just two games. Taylor Erby and Milvo each had three hits for Virginia Wesleyan.

Breck Davidson was the only Lion with multiple hits as the Piedmont clean-up hitter went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ben McCurley (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Piedmont (5-2).

Virginia Wesleyan (2-0) faces York (Pa.) College (0-2) Sunday at noon to conclude play in the Piedmont College Early Spring Classic.