Virginia Wesleyan Pitches Way to 9-2 Victory over Hampden-Sydney
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College pitching staff struck out 10 batters while not issuing a walk in route to a 9-2 victory over Hampden-Sydney College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) baseball action Wednesday.
Sean Grieser (1-1), having not pitched since February 27, took the bump for the Marlins and threw 65 pitches over five innings. He allowed just two unearned runs on six hits while striking out four.
The Marlins got on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the fourth as back-to-back singles by Brandon Kussmaul and Matt Murray set the table with no outs. Following a lineout, Corey King singled to center to load the bases.
Justin Erby brought home Kussmaul on a groundout to second before Deon Hammond chased home King and Murray on a single through the left side.
Hampden-Sydney scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning on a Brian Goodwyn two-RBI double, but both were unearned as the frame started with an error, resulting in an at bat for Goodwyn with two outs.
The Marlins responded from having their lead cut to just one run, 3-2, with four in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Tiger starter Jimmy Butler from the game in the process.
Randy Neisz led off the inning with a walk, forcing a change as Matt Metheny came in to relieve Butler. Matheny allowed a hit to each of the four batters he faced as Murray and Lindsay doubled while Kussmaul and King single. In all, four runs crossed the plate to make the score 7-2.
The string of base hits forced another call to the bullpen as Dylan Gonzales came in for Metheny. Gonzales allowed just two unearned runs in 3 2/3 innings while striking out five.
Austin Gammon relieved Grieser in the sixth and threw three shutout frames, allowing three hits while striking out six.
Goodwyn went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Hampden-Sydney (14-7/1-2) while Jacob Fontana posted a 2-for-3 day.
Nik Milvo and Lindsay had three hits each for the Marlins.
Virginia Wesleyan (10-5/4-1) travels to Bridgewater College (11-7/2-2) Saturday for an ODAC doubleheader at noon.