BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Hit were there Saturday for the Virginia Wesleyan College baseball Marlins, 17 overall, but the runs didn't follow.

The Marlins dropped their Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener on the road to the host Eagles of Bridgewater College, 10-3 and 4-1. 

Nathan Chamberlin (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) connected for a double and single in the first game for the Marlins, which included a pair of singles each from Alex Lambert (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes) and Matt Ittner (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox).  VWC (2-9) led 2-0 after the top of the first inning, but Bridgewater came back with a consistent offense to take the lead with eight runs through the first four innings.

Alex Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) started on the mound for the Marlins, who used five pitchers overall.  He worked an inning, an took the loss, before Justin Payne (Groton, N.Y./Lansing) entered and tossed through four innings.  He fanned four batters and gave up four hits, four runs, three earned runs and two walks.

Game two produced a 1-1 tie heading into the bottom of the fifth when Bridgewater (14-4) took the lead for good with a pair of runs. 

Anthony Siracusa (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) led the Marlins with a triple and a pair of singles. Pike Brynildsen (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) added a pair of singles and Chamberlin came through with a double and single.

Siracusa backed his big game at the plate with a solid pitching performance, turning in a complete game for the Marlins.  He faced 37 batters and struck out seven, and gave up three walks and four runs and two earned runs.

VWC competes again on Tuesday, March 13, hosting Methodist University in a single game beginning at 3 p.m. at Marlins Field.

--AMDG--