Marlins down Tigers on Road

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College baseball team scored four runs in the middle innings Wednesday to defeat Hampden-Sydney College 6-3 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.

The Marlins put a run on the board in the top of the first. Facing two quick outs, Justin Erby doubled to set the table for Randy Neisz. The Marlin outfielder extended his hitting streak to 28 games with an RBI single that plated Erby.

Hampden-Sydney answered in the bottom half of the inning, benefiting from back-to-back singles to start the frame. Brian Goodwyn singled home Dustin Wiles to tie the contest. A walk made it a tougher inning for the Marlins, but Chance Pauley struck out the next batter and induced a ground ball double play to end the threat.

The Marlins scored one in the top of the third on a wild pitch, adding three insurance runs in the top of the fourth to go up 5-1. Jordan Sprouse, Brady Fallon, and Brandon Kussmaul all singled to load the bases. Corey King singled home Fallon and Sprouse. A fielder's choice later in the inning plated Kussmaul.

Hampden-Sydney tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh as Goodwyn's two-RBI triple made the score 5-3, but the Marlins would get out of the frame.

Kussmaul singled home Fallon in the top of the ninth for the final margin.

Pauley (3-1) earned the win, surrendering three runs in 6.1 innings while striking out four. Fallon went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Riley Koonce picked up his ODAC-leading sixth save of the year with two innings of one-hit relief.

Goodwyn finished with two hits and three RBI for Hampden-Sydney (15-12/4-5) while Cody Smith tallied a pair of hits.

Virginia Wesleyan (14-12/5-5) hosts Christopher Newport University (22-9) Thursday for a non-conference battle at 3 p.m. weather permitting. Stay tuned to vwcathletics.com for additional details.