Marlins Finish Ithaca with 12-9 Victory

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College baseball team scored big in the bottom of the third inning to defeat Ithaca College 12-9 in non-conference play Sunday.

Ithaca College began the scoring in the second inning with a Ryan Henchey single to shortstop. Henchey advanced to second following a single to the right side, later scoring on a single to right field by Garrett Snyder to make it 1-0.

The Marlins responded in the bottom half with a single from Deon Hammond to the pitcher, scoring on C.J. Lindsay's first home run of the year to make it 2-1.

Ithaca College tallied another run in the top of the third to tie it up before the Marlins responded with a seven spot in the bottom half for a 9-2 lead.

Justin Erby led off the Marlin inning with a single to the pitcher, followed by a walk by Kussmaul, and a Taylor Erby hit by pitch to load the bases. Back-to-back singles from Randy Neisz and Hammond cleared the bases for a 5-2 VWC lead. Lindsay then reached on a fielder's choice, followed by a single by Zack Clark through the left side to load the bases again. Hammond scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-2. One batter later, Jordy Ellis drew an RBI walk for a 7-2 lead. A single up the middle from Justin Erby scored Clark and Sprouse to account for the seven VWC runs in the frame.

Ithaca College responded with three runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double off the bat of John Peterson.

Ithaca took advantage of three Marlin errors and a catcher's interference to plate three runs in the seventh, cutting the lead to 10-9.

The Marlins added a lone run in the seventh and eighth innings before Riley Koonce entered in the ninth to pick up his third save of the year.

Lindsay went 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBI while Hammond posted a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with a pair of runs and and two RBI.

Virginia Wesleyan (4-4) hosts No. 12 Oswego St. for a doubleheader March 5 at noon.