VIRGINIA BEACH -- Rookie Alex Tucci picked up his first intercollegiate victory on the mound Tuesday as he helped guide Virginia Wesleyan College's baseball Marlins to a 4-2 non-conference win over Averett University's Cougars.
Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic), a 6-foot-6 lefty, faced 27 batters and scattered three hits in six innings of work. He walked five batters, but also struck out two and allowed just one earned run to help Virginia Wesleyan to its 15th victory in the last 18 meetings with the Cougars.
Averett, which entered the game with a 5-1 record, took the early lead, scoring in the top of the first aided by a walk, an error, and a single from James Carter (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge).
The Cougars rode that lead until the third when Virginia (1-1) used a double fromAnthony Siracusa (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) and an RBI single from Pike Brynildsen (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) to score the tying run.
Both teams added a run in the fifth inning to make it a 2-2 game, before VWC took the lead for good with a solo run in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Nate Chamberlin (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) started it when he was hit by a pitch to board first base. A bunt and error moved Chamberlin to third and he scored on a fielder's choice from sophomoreBuddy Lawson (Virginia Beach/First Colonial).
Virginia Wesleyan's defense, and the pitching of relieverReid Hoffler (Chesapeake, Va./Suffolk Nansemond River), kept Averett hitless through the sixth and seven innings. The Cougars struck for two hits in the eighth, but were frustrated as VWC came up with the defense to leave bases loaded.
The Marlins added another run in the bottom of the eighth, helped by singles from Alex Lambert (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes) andJosh Miller (Norfolk, Va./Chesapeake Greenbrier Christian). Averett's last at-bat in the top of the nine produced another hitless finish.
Virginia Wesleyan finished with a 9-5 advantage in hits, led by Siracusa with a double and single and Chamberlin with a double. Carter led Averett with a pair of singles.
Cody Moore (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) started on the mound for Averett and pitched through six innings. He struck out four, gave up two walks and five hits, and allowed one earned run. Chris Moyer (Grafton, Va./Grafton) finished, striking out one, allowing four hits and one earned run. He faced nine batters.
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 22, motoring to Newport News to face No. 4 Christopher Newport University in a non-conference game starting at 2 p.m.
--AMDG-