VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Batting 3-4 in the order, senior catcher Matt Malcom (East Lyme) and senior DH Colby Linnell (Prospect) both homered and first-year pitcher Dylan Scudder (Simsbury) struck out nine over first four innings of his first appearance and start to lift the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team to a 7-1 win over Virginia Wesleyan University Sunday afternoon at Perry Field.

Malcom hit a two-run home run in the top of the first to stake 6-foot-7 inch righty Scudder (1-0) to an early lead and Linnell belted his first career home run in the fifth to drive in Malcom and senior shortstop Zach Donahue (South Windsor) to make it 7-0 and chase Marlin sophomore righty Paul Krueger (0-1).

Scudder fanned the first batter he faced in his debut and struck out the side twice, allowing his only hit with two out in the fourth on a single by senior centerfielder Trent Hanchey.

A winner of 26 straight over two seasons, the 2022 NCAA Division III national champions collected 12 hits off four Virginia Wesleyan (1-6) pitchers. Batting third in the order, Malcom had three hits, two RBI and two runs scored and is now batting.538 (7-for-13) with three home runs, seven RBI and six runs scored in three games. Donahue, senior third baseman Brent Cosculluela (Miami, FL) and first-year first baseman Jared Clark (Bristol) each had two hits. The hits were the first for Clark, making his debut. He also drove in his first run when he plated Cosculluela, who led off the fourth inning with a double.

First-year junior righty transfer Finn Doherty (Milton, MA) pitched three shutout innings in his Eastern debut as the third of four Eastern pitchers. Doherty struck out four and gave up three hits.

Eastern returns to action this coming weekend, visiting Dickinson College Saturday for an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Dickinson Park and facing host Stevenson University Sunday at noon at Owings Mills East.