VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Randolph-Macon was able to string together hits in the sixth inning, as well as a late rally in the ninth, but it was not enough to catch the Marlins in a tough battle on the road.
The Basics
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 7, (RV) Randolph-Macon 4
Venue: Virginia Beach, Va. // Perry Field // Virginia Wesleyan University
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (14-10, 7-6 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (14-12, 5-6 ODAC)
How It Happened:
- In the bottom of the fifth inning, Virginia Wesleyan used three consecutive singles to take a 1-0 lead. Once the next batter singled to load the bases, a walk pushed the Marlins' second run across. At the end of the fifth, the home team earned a 3-0 lead as a result of a tricky infield play.
- Randolph-Macon immediately responded in the top of the sixth, as Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) started the offense with a single up the middle. Then, Brian Fleming (Rehoboth, Del./Cape Henolpen) reached on a fielder's choice, and with an added error from the Marlins, RMC found itself with runners on first and second. Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) followed with a single through the left side to load the bases for his team. Zach Stolze (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) took advantage of the opportunity and ripped a double in the right center gap, pushing all baserunners home to tie the contest at 3-3.
- In the bottom of the seventh, two one-out singles resulted in two runs, as a result of a double. Then, the following batter tallied a double of his own to increase the gap to 6-3. While RMC was able to get the second out with a pop out, one more single drove a Marlin in to extend the VWU lead to 7-3.
- Randolph-Macon reignited its offense for one more run in the top of the ninth, as Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) got on base after drawing a walk. Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) was then hit by a pitch, giving the Lemon and Black runners on first and second. The Yellow Jackets went on to load the bases with no outs, as a result of Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) being hit by a pitch. Duff jumped on the chance and singled to left, driving Quici home to cut the lead to 4-7.
By The Numbers:
- The Marlins paced the Yellow Jackets in hits (11-to-six), as well as RBI (six-to-four).
- Randolph-Macon was able to draw four walks in the game, while RMC pitchers only walked one batter.
- Stolze led the way for RMC with three RBI on his extra-base hit.
- The only player for Randolph-Macon with two hits was Duff. He posted two singles and joined Stolze with the other RBI for the Yellow Jackets.
- Bowles was able to get on base frequently for his team, as he drew a game-high two walks to pair with his hit.
- Quici was able to register a hit, walk and run for the team at the leadoff slot.
- RMC's six hits was rounded out with a hit from Fleming.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets host N.C. Wesleyan for a 3:00 p.m. contest on Tuesday, April 7 in Ashland, Va.
