VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Junior Nic Phelps (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) tossed a four-hitter, his first collegiate complete game, and struck out a career-best 11 as sixth-ranked Randolph-Macon downed Virginia Wesleyan 10-1 in ODAC action Wednesday afternoon.
Phelps (2-0) allowed one earned run and did not walk a batter for the Yellow Jackets (24-5-1, 10-5 ODAC). He faced just four over the minimum.
After a pair of scoreless innings, R-MC dented the scoreboard in the third. Freshman Jeffrey Butler (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) had a leadoff single to right and stole second. Sophomore Rick Spiers (South Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) homered to left center, his first of the season, to drive in Butler and give the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 edge. Senior Christian Sanderson (Lynchburg, Va./Jefferson Forest) reached on an error and moved to third on a second error. Senior Travis Lodge (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Senior Nick Maiolo (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) singled to right to bring home Sanderson and give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Senior Mitchell Keeler (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) had a sacrifice fly to drive in Lodge and a single by senior Michael Trentham (Midlothian, Va./James River) plated Mailo to give R-MC a 5-0 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets added a pair in the sixth. Senior Michael Kroll (Virginia Beach, Va./Cape Henry) had a one-out base hit and moved to second when Spiers reached on a two-out bunt single. Sanderson singled to center to drive in Kroll and a Lodge double brought home Spiers as R-MC built a 7-0 lead.
R-MC put up three in the ninth. Maiolo started the rally with a one-out single, moved to second on a walk to Keeler and advanced to third when Trentham was hit by a pitch. Junior Herminio Azor (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) reached on an error, driving in Maiolo to make it 8-0. Kroll walked to force in Keeler and Butler reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Trentham, making the score 10-0.
The Marlins (16-11, 10-6 ODAC) would score their lone run in the bottom of the ninth.
Spiers had two hits, two runs and two RBI, while Maiolo had two hits, two runs and one RBI. Kroll went 3 for 4 with one walk and one run.
Randolph-Macon continues conference play at home this weekend. The Yellow Jackets host Roanoke on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park, playing at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.