SALISBURY, Md. -- A three-run sixth innin Friday helped push Salisbury University's Sea Gulls to a 6-1 non-conference victory over the visiting Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College. (Box score)

Salisbury (11-8) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and extended it to 3-0 after two innings.  But, Virginia Wesleyan (11-14) cut into the deficit in the top of the third with a run.  Steve Jones (Virginia Beach/Lake Taylor) reached base on a fielder's choice and scored when Jacob Pierce (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) belted his 15th double of the season, tying the fifth highest total in VWC history.

VWC left runners stranded in the first, second, third, fifth, and eighth innings. 

Pierce and Pike Brynildsen (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) topped VWC's six-hit offense with two hits each.  Brad Baylis (Pocomoke, Md./Pocomoke) had three hits to lead Salisbury.

Jake Settle (Richmond, Va./Home schooled) started on the mound for the Marlins and worked 5.1 innings.  He fanned two batters and gave up nine hits and five earned runs.  Chris Greiner (Baltimore, Md./Mt. St. Joseph) took the win for SU after eight innings on the mound. He struck out six, walked one and allowed six hits and an earned run.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Mar. 26, hosting Lynchburg College's Hornets in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at Marlins Field.  VWC also hosts No. 16-ranked Tufts University on Sunday, Mar. 27, at 1 p.m., and plays at No. 1-ranked Shenandoah University on Monday, Mar. 28, at 1 p.m.

--AMDG--